Michael Paul Surber was born in 1983 in Baden, Switzerland.
From 2006 to 2008, he completed his pre-college music studies at Mesa College in San Diego, CA, where he studied composition with Dr. Igor Korneitchouk. In addition to choir director Betsy Frater, his piano teacher Mary Barranger had a significant musical influence on him.
In Boston, MA, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2013, studying with Michael Gandolfi and attending a masterclass with Oliver Knussen. He also received conducting lessons from Erica Washburn.
In 2016, he obtained his Master’s degree in Composition from HSLU – Music, studying under Dieter Ammann and participating in masterclasses with Wolfgang Rihm and Enno Poppe. He also pursued a minor in choral conducting with Stefan Albrecht and Ulrike Grosch.
Since 2016, he has been working primarily as a composer and piano teacher in Switzerland. He lives in Lenzburg with his partner.