The Director
Michael Najar joined the faculty at Palo Alto High School as teacher of Choral and Vocal music in 2003. At Palo Alto he directs five ensembles and teaches Advanced Music Theory. Choirs under his direction have toured internationally to Spain, France, Brazil Mexico, Hungary and Slovakia.
Najar is an active composer making his mark with his humorous approach and inventive style. Najar has written for choirs, voice, and strings. His musical, Love Songs in Traffic, premiered in 2006 and gained local and statewide attention.
Mr. Najar received his Bachelor of Music degree from University of California at Irvine in 1997, where he studied voice and composition. Michael has post-graduate study in conducting at California State University of Los Angeles. He is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Vocal Performance at Notre Dame da Namur. He served on the faculty as director of the NDNU Chanteurs and as a teacher in Music Technology.
Najar is the recipient of the 2007 and 2008 Elaine Cohen Scholarship at NDNU. As a soloist he is comfortable in classical, musical theater, jazz and pop genres.