Michael R. Hicks has uplifted audiences all over the world - from the Middle East to California, from Calgary, Canada to Kenya, Africa. He has spoken on many topics and has performed with many artists. His music has won awards and many have performed his arrangements, from small church choirs to national country stars.

Michael graduated from BYU in Marketing Communication with a minor in music. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah and served full-time in the LDS California Santa Rosa Mission. Michael taught seminary at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah. He has spoken at and has been a counselor for the EFY program for five years.

Michael is perhaps best know as the composer of the EFY Medley: As Sisters In Zion & We'll Bring the World His Truth, sung by over a third of a million youth since 1999 at the Especially for Youth program, and sung by tens of thousands in church congregations around the world, including seminary graduations, youth conferences in Lithuania, Australia, Japan, China, Canada, the United Kingdom, throughout South America, and more.

Michael first released a CD of solo piano arrangements of hymns entitled To Satisfy the Law in 1997, published the piano book for that CD the following year.

In 1999, he produced a CD single and sheet music of his As Sisters In Zion & We'll Bring the World His Truth arrangement. Michael was able to contribute more to EFY the next year through his arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives which was included on the 2000 EFY album, Forward With Faith.

His project, Creations, is an album of original piano-based instrumental music, which celebrates the beauties of the earth. Creations was nominated for three awards at the 2001 Pearl Awards.

In 2002, Michael initiated a collaboration between Jon Schmidt, Paul Cardall, David Tolk, and himself to create an astoundingly beautiful new-age piano collection called Piano Portraits, which was nominated for two Pearl Awards.

Michael's latest album, I Know He Lives - Music for a Youth Fireside, showcases some of the best LDS vocal talent singing Michael's favorite arrangements of hymns, including his re-recording of the EFY Medley, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, and Be Still, My Soul, which won the Pearl Award for "Sacred Record Song" in 2004 and 2005.

In 2006, Michael released a new CD single of the EFY Medley which also features 6 bonus tracks, including several never-before heard original songs Michael has written over the years.

In 2009, Michael reunited with Jon Schmidt, Paul Cardall, and David Tolk to create Piano Portraits Lullaby, a collection of traditional and original solo piano lullabies.

When he is not writing music, Michael enjoys spending as much time as he can with his family. He currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wonderful wife, daughter, and son.

http://www.michaelrhicks.com/

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