Michel Poels (Nijmegen, May 10, 1968) studied singing at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and choral conducting at the Utrecht Conservatory (HKU), where he obtained his Master of Music in 2019. As a singer, he won the 1994 Stichting Jong Muziektalent Nederland competition in his age category. From 1999 to 2013, Michel was part of, among others, Cappella Amsterdam and Vokal Consort Berlin. Michel Poels has sung the most important oratorio works and has sung numerous modern works at festivals of international significance such as November Music, Grachtenfestival and Musikmonat Basel.

Michel is the artistic director of Zangstudio Haarlem and Zangstudio Delft, with which he created the following music theater productions: Kenau de Opera, Cajanus – a gigantic opera, that had its Finnish premiere in the summer of 2019, Rossini.nu and music theater experience Cavalleria Rusticana in collaboration with. the Russian director Ekaterina Vasileva. “Naundorff” recently premiered in HAL015 in Delft. In 2025. The new music theater piece KOORLOG (libretto: Don Duyns, music: Michel Poels) will premiere in Haarlem, after which this production can also be seen in Zaandam and Amsterdam.

Michel is currently establishing the professional collective Consort023, with both a vocal and instrumental branch. This ensemble focuses on collaboration between experienced professionals and conservatory students/alumni.

Michel Poels conducts various project choirs of Zangstudio Haarlem/Delft.  From February 2020 to April 2022 he was conductor of KCOV Halleluja in Rotterdam. Michel Poels is the current conductor of COV Zaanstreek since April 2022. At the invitation of Opera Classica Europe, he conducted La Traviata in Sittard, in the open air, in August 2022. In July 2023 he conducted the professional vocal ensemble of the Big Sing in Haarlem, with the world premiere of The Prophecy by David Dramm.