Michael lives in Maywood, IL and serves as Cantor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in River Forest, IL. A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Michael has served parishes in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina as a church musician and also served St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC as an assistant pastor.

Michael graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, NC, where he studied Sacred Music with the Rev. Dr. Paul D. Weber and Professor Florence Jowers. In 1999 he won the Ruth and Paul Manz award and won the Region IV Young Organists Competition of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in the same year. He went on to perform during the AGO's 2000 national convention in Seattle, WA. A portion of that program aired on National Public Radio's Pipe Dreams.

Michael and his wife, Rebekah, graduated in 2006 from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with master of divinity degrees. Michael was ordained at the South Carolina Synod Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in May 2006 and served in Columbia, SC for two years before being called to River Forest, IL.

Michael is known best for his creative hymn improvisations and sensitive service playing. He is a composer of music for both choir and organ. Many of his choral pieces and organ collections are published by MorningStar Music Publishers, several of which are included in a series called Sacred Music from Lenoir-Rhyne. Other pieces are published by Augsburg Fortess. You can read more about Michael's work and listen to samples of his music in the Compositions section on this site.

Michael is an active member and President of Region 3 of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and the American Guild of Organists. He is available to lead hymn festivals, workshops, or perform organ recitals.

Michael and his wife, Rebekah, are the proud parents of Andrew Doyle Costello and Lydia Marie Costello.