Dr. Michael T. Dawson is an acclaimed conductor, educator, and co-founder of the Irish Institute of Music & Song (IIMS) in Balbriggan, Ireland. He earned his Doctorate in Musical Arts in Choral Music from the University of Southern California, supported by a Fulbright scholarship and teaching assistantship.

Before his doctoral studies, Michael taught at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, where he transformed the Maynooth University Chamber Choir into one of Europe’s leading collegiate ensembles. Under his direction from 2011 to 2016, the choir toured internationally across the U.S., China, and Europe. In 2015, they became the first Irish choir to win the prestigious "Choir of the World" competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales with Michael becoming the youngest conductor ever to lift the trophy.

As a vocalist, Dr. Dawson performed with the internationally renowned ensemble Anúna, contributing to several albums, including soundtracks for popular video games like Diablo III and World of Warcraft. He also holds a master's degree in Ritual, Chant, and Song from the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at the University of Limerick.

In 2014, Dr. Dawson co-founded the Fingal Academy of Music, which evolved into the Irish Institute of Music & Song in 2019 a non-profit social enterprise increasing access to music education and experiences on the island of Ireland. In 2023 the campus opened the Lark Concert Hall, which was subsequently awarded the Royal Institute of Architects Ireland “Building of the Year”. The state-of-the-art venue welcomes performing groups and artists worldwide.

He also serves as the Artistic Director of the Fingal International Festival of Voices, an annual event in Balbriggan that celebrates diversity and community through music.

Dr. Dawson's expertise encompasses conducting science-informed voice pedagogy, choral music, music education, and performance studies. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with educators and musicians both in Ireland and internationally, regularly providing workshops and adjudicating choral competitions. In 2024 Michael delivered workshops to over fifty choirs and ensembles.