Meet Michael Hammerstrom, a multi-disciplinary performing artist, nonprofit professional and community arts leader based in Portland, Oregon. Described as “transporting” and “soaring” by Oregon ArtsWatch, and as an actor with “a Louboutin of affection” by The Oregonian, Michael began his theatre training at Interlochen Center for the Arts and went on to earn a BFA in Musical Theatre and Liberal Arts from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee before touring the country performing professional children’s theatre, which is where he discovered his passion of ensuring the arts are accessible to and representative of everyone from an early age. He has performed at Lincoln Center, in concert on Broadway, with the Boston Pops, at the National Cathedral, and at several regional theatres and concert/nightlife venues across the country.

After performing professionally and building a successful nonprofit career in NYC and Washington, DC, Michael moved back to his home state of Oregon in 2019, where he currently works in Market Research at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and as a freelance performing artist represented by Harris Talent Agency. In 2026, he was appointed by Governor Tina Kotek to a 4-year term as a Commissioner on the Oregon Arts Commission, determining statewide arts needs and establishing policies for public support of the arts. He proudly sits on the Board of Directors of Theatre For Young Audiences/USA and Many Hats Collaboration, and has been a singing member and Creative Director of Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and singing member of Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC. He is an in-demand speaker and has been a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant for Young People’s Theatre Project and OPB, and is a contributor to Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive Futures for Theatre for Young Audiences: An Interactive Guide. He has served as a judge in the Musical Theatre category for Oregon State Thespians and the National Endowment for the Arts, and studies voice with Sarah Maines, DMA.

He lives in NW Portland with his soul dog, a Jack Russell-Chihuahua mix named Dexter.