Dr. Michael S. Gayle is an accomplished music educator, performing artist, and arts administrator whose work spans K-12, higher education, and community-based arts initiatives. With a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, and graduate degrees from both New York University and Adelphi University, Dr. Gayle brings over a decade of experience in designing culturally responsive, equity-driven arts education programs that serve diverse student populations. His scholarship centers on the intersection of music education, entrepreneurship, and executive function development, particularly as they pertain to Black and Brown youth.

A proud African American male scholar and son of Jamaican heritage, Dr. Gayle currently serves as a professor at St. John’s University and is the former Network Director of Performing Arts for The Academy Charter Schools in New York. In that role, he led the artistic vision across eleven campuses, developed curriculum in music, dance, theater, and visual arts, and pioneered after-school programs and professional development frameworks rooted in constructivist and culturally sustaining pedagogy.

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As a saxophonist, conductor, and composer, Dr. Gayle’s creative work includes the original Christmas album A Different Christmas with Michael Gayle, featuring orchestral and big band arrangements recorded in Nashville and at Adelphi University. His musical direction bridges sacred, classical, jazz, and Caribbean traditions. He is also the visionary behind Listen: The Musical, a forthcoming feature-length film that integrates narrative, song, and themes of faith, resilience, and education.

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Through his nonprofit and consulting endeavors, Dr. Gayle continues to support institutions in developing sustainable, inclusive performing arts programs. His leadership is characterized by strategic vision, deep community engagement, and a commitment to affirming the creative potential of Black and Brown students across the educational spectrum.