Ms. Michelle Risling earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at California State University Fullerton in 2010, and a single-subject California Teaching Credential in Music the following year. She is currently a Graduate Assistant at San Diego State University's School of Music and Dance, where she is earning a Master of Music in Conducting. She has been at Temecula Preparatory School since 2013, and has been conducting professionally since 2008. Ms. Risling is the director of the San Diego North Coast Singers' Capella, and the Artistic Director of Sorelle San Diego, two nonprofit choral ensembles that support the community of San Diego.

In addition to directing and conducting, Ms. Risling sings professionally. She has performed as a member of Choral Arts Initiative, Pro Arte Voices, and Sacra/Profana, as well as with the La Jolla and San Diego Symphony choirs. As a choral singer, she has performed with such notable figures as Andrea Bocelli, Dale Warland, Eric Whitacre, Beck, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nintendo at E3 Expo, Bear McCreary, Video Games Live and Amazon Prime's presentations at Comic Con San Diego, and with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.  She is an active member of the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA), the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), and the Choral Consortium of San Diego (CCSD).