Koss is currently the Director of Music at St. John’s. He has been at the church since July 2018.
He began studying piano at the age of six, and switched to organ at age 13. He continued studying under Alfred R. deJaager as an undergraduate organ student at West Liberty University and received grand prize for the Ohio Valley Young Organist Competition in 2001.
After receiving a BA in Music Education from West Liberty University, he moved to Tucson, Arizona to attend graduate school and began studying organ under Dr. Pamela Decker. He received his Master’s in Music Theory and was awarded the College of Fine Arts Most Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant for his work with music theory students. Michael received his Doctorate in Music Theory with an Organ Performance minor in 2011 from The University of Arizona.
Koss moved to Tucson from Maryland in 2003 to attend The University of Arizona. While studying in Tucson, he held numerous positions as organist and director of music as well as served on the executive board as registrar for the Southern Arizona chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
Koss holds a Service Playing certificate from the American Guild of Organists and has given workshops, performed concerts, and presented papers across southern Arizona, Oklahoma, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Besides being an accomplished organist, he is a music theory scholar specializing in post-1970 rock, pedagogy and historical tuning systems. He has presented research in various conferences as well as guest lecturer, and has been published in the Arizona Music Educators Journal. He is currently developing a music theory textbook, and has composed works for organ which are awaiting publication.