Meet Michelle
Michelle Risse was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, but just like any Disney princess she always seemed to be in pursuit of more…
At age four she started playing the violin and although the Suzuki Method did not lend itself well to her learning style; the constant repetition of classical music did lead to perfect pitch and a true appreciation for discipline, hard work, and musicality. After seven years of constant struggle, she decided to stop playing the violin and shift her musical interest to musical theatre.
Singing “Danny Boy” to Baby Gumm. Summer ‘97 Grand Rapids, MN
During her childhood Risse was an avid fan of Judy Garland, and one time she spent her summer cleaning and ironing at her mother’s B&B to enable her to pay for a plane ticket to the Judy Garland Festival, where she was able to perform in a living history program as Mary Jane Gumm (Judy Garland’s oldest sister).
Throughout the years, in addition to being a student at Woodriver Elementary, she was an active member of the local light opera company known as F.L.O.T.
As Baby June, in the local production of “Gypsy”
The town, which Risse grew up in, was small and did not give her the luxury of letting opportunity come her way. It didn’t take long for Risse to find out that she would have to “create” opportunity in order to stay interested and entertained in a small town. 2004 marked the year for one of Risse’s greatest achievements. That was the year that Risse took it upon herself to direct, choreograph, conceive, and produce a musical revue show to ultimately raise awareness and funds for the choir program. The initial idea for this production started out as a small idea; an intimate concert to be given in the band room.
Steppin’ Out With My Baby
Cabaret Night,
West Valley High School, 2004
The next year marked the start of college for Risse. She started out following her dream of studying music, but quickly realized that classical music was the only genre being offered, and knew this was something she did not excel at. College was an exciting time, and she ended up taking her studies to Long Island, NY, Casper, WY, Wichita, KS, Grenoble, FRANCE, Québec, CANADA, Naknek, AK, and Orlando, FL. During her stint in Wichita, KS she was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 and went through nearly a year of depression. This event ultimately made her stronger and more compassionate. She will write this book series off as a success if even a portion of the mental health community is reached and inspired by this!
After a long academic journey awaited …
Graduation!
Extreme desperation is what led her to accept a teaching job in Bush Alaska. She worked in a town that boasted a population of 5,500 residents. The weather was absolutely horrible; temperatures would dip down to -50, there was a period of time when people had to experience life for two months without a sunrise, and the climate was extremely windy causing the landscape to be completely treeless. With all of those negative factors you would think that the students and administration would embrace any individual who was willing to teach up there and endure all of these conditions. Sad to say such was not the case, and one year proved to be the maximum amount of time that Risse could devote to this job assignment.
Back in the days of Ms. Risse (language arts teacher) Barrow, AK 2017-2018
After her teaching stint in Barrow, Risse was able to live out her dream of experiencing life in New York City.
Due to an unfortunate financial situation and health crisis Risse was whisked back to life in Fairbanks, AK.
She spent the next half a year back in Fairbanks, AK and did not let her cold, isolated environment stop her from creating art or forwarding her writing career.
Instead of celebrating a typical “Valentine’s Day” she managed to put on a musicalized reading of her book Surviving Singlehood in the Arctic with elaborate musical arrangements, eight performers, a red carpet, and refreshments at a local art gallery.
That event is what solidified that Risse wanted to go off to New York to promote and create art.
So, in May of that very same year Risse took a giant “Leap of Faith” and moved to New York.
Currently she lives in Astoria where she has managed to finish all three Singlehood books.
