He was the Artistic Director of Opera Memphis from 1992-2010. This site carries a variety of Mr. Ching’s art songs and arrangements. The arrangements include spirituals, American folk songs, and Italian songs available via (pdf). This site has Michael's settings of four of the Arie Antiche, including "Per la gloria," "Caro mio ben," "Non posso disperar," and "Se Florindo e fedele," as well as his settings of three of Petrarch's Sonnets. Also available is his popular setting of the spiritual "Hold on" recorded by Clare Gormley for ABC Classics and also by Kenneth Overton. Michael's new operas, ANNA HUNTER and ALICE RYLEY had their premieres in November 2017 and October 2015 at the Savannah VOICE Festival. In 2018-2019, Michael has premieres at Palm Springs Opera Guild, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, and mini operas at Savannah Voice Festival and Utah Opera.