Michael K. Harrist is a New York City based multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator, specializing in contrabass and yaylı tanbur. Michael works in a wide range of traditions including Ottoman/Turkish music, Jazz, Western Classical, Hindustani and American roots music. Michael has concertized across the Americas, Europe and Asia with various ensembles including Labyrinth Ontario Ensemble, Mexamorphosis, Ameranouche and Ross Daly, Çeşni Trio, Orchestrotica, Capillary Action, Sol & Kiel and Michael Kiel Cash. He is the founding artistic director of Halcyon Arts New England, adjunct faculty at Kean University and founder/director of Harrist Music Studios. A disciple of W. A. Michael has also studied under Ross Daly, Ramesh Mishra, George Ruckert, Suhail Yusuf Khan, Melisa Yildirim, Fred Stubbs and Evgenios Voulgaris.