Michelle holds a Bachelor of Education, and an Associate Diploma of Jazz (University of Adelaide) and currently teaches at the University of Melbourne, VCASS (Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School), and Monash University. Since 1998 she has conducted Masterclasses and Workshops all over Australia, in Singapore, Taiwan, and at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music (London), JEN Conference (New Orleans 2017, 2020, Orlando 2023), Frost School of Music (University of Miami 2017), University of North Texas 2019, Oceanside Jazz Festival 2019 (Mira Costa, USA), International Jazz Voice Conference 2015 and 2019 (Finland), Cal State University Northridge and Cal State University Long Beach 2023)

As an educator, Michelle advocates for the vocalist as an equally respected and valued musical member of the jazz ensemble. Her philosophy that has developed as a performer of 30+ years is that fluency in improvising comes from strength in musical independence. Michelle teaches her students about security in the form, time, melody, pitch, and harmony – all whilst supporting the story of the song. Independence as a vocalist, relying on no other member of an ensemble, allows freedom and confidence in hearing and expressing the musical landscape as well as any instrumentalist.