Michael Toth - Pianist

Michael began studying piano at the age of 7 with Marjorie Haimbach in Langhorne Pennsylvania.  Under Marjorie's expert guidance, he was able to perform with local symphonies and win a number of competitions before he performed a recital debut at Weil Recital Hall when he was 14.  Continuing on with his studies in school, he went to Eastman School of Music and the University of Notre Dame where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music specializing in piano performance.

Intrigued by the beginnings of the micro computer revolution, Michael learned how to build his own homebrew computer in his spare time in 1979 and 1980 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame.  This inspired him to get his Master's degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Houston.  After graduating from the University of Houston in 1986, he started working at AT\&T Bell Labs as an electrical engineer also maintaining his career in music, giving recitals and accompanying musicians.  His career in electrical engineering has continued since then along with a parallel career in music.  Currently Michael works for Computer Aid Incorporated at Air Products doing software development in the area of signal processing.   He performs frequently both as an accompanist and soloist and has an extensive chamber music background as well.   Michael has taught both privately and as an instructor at Muhlenberg College.  He has had experience in the theater as well, as the pianist in "Master Class", and musical director for "The Dead" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the 19th Street Theater in Allentown.  Today Michael is the pianist for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and a member of a musical trio called "Crosswinds Trio" which consists of the unusual combination of French Horn, Trumpet, and Piano and has played throughout the country with the trio.

Always interested in combining the two disciplines of engineering and music, Michael has written a number of software programs related to music.  While teaching at Muhlenberg, Michael wrote software which would monitor the students when they played scales and adjust the tempo of their scales depending on how well they executed them.  He has also written a program which allows him to view his music on the computer and turn the pages with a foot switch.  There is a rich environment for computer use in music and Michael plans to continue exploring this synergy.  His web site, www.virtualpianist.com was created with this in mind.