Michael Rigney is originally from the small town of Picayune, Mississippi and is a third year Doctor of Arts student in piano performance with a secondary emphasis in chamber music and accompanying. When asked about building relationships through music, Michael shared:

“I have met wonderful people while at Ball State University including my significant other. I never expected to find the love of my life while completing my doctoral degree, but I did, and I’m not mad about it! I’ve also learned the importance of making time for people. We are all so very busy, and it is so easy to put off having that coffee with a friend, but in the end, it is the relationships we build that are most important in life. I think we all just need to slow down a bit and make more time for conversation.” 📸: @jkwcreative