As a scholar, Mike’s research and teaching focuses on a wide range of topics, including issues of agroecology, community, culture, development, economy, environment, gender, participation, place, and social justice, with an eye toward both the practical and theoretical issues of how we might do a better job with all of these matters.
As an author, Mike has authored or edited nine books, three of which have won national awards. Try the “books” link above for more detail, or click this list of them.
As a composer, Mike works in both grassroots and classical traditions, from songs, to fiddle tunes, to classical piano, to choral pieces, to his recent string quartet. He currently composes for and performs on mandolin with the award-winning band Graminy, which brings grassroots and classical music together in a new style they call “class-grass.” Mike continues to write tunes and songs that contibute to a variety of folk traditions, especially bluegrass and contradance music. His classical composition draws much of its inspiration from these traditions as well. Mike has five albums to his credit, and his compositions have been recorded by many other artists.
Contact mike at mike (at) michael-bell (dot) net
Mike’s c.v. can be downloaded here.