Michael R. Gagliardo was named the second Music Director and Conductor of the Etowah Youth Orchestras in August of 1995.  Since his appointment, he has led the Orchestras to national recognition, including the receipt of seven American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music in the category of Youth Orchestras; and the "Best In Class" Award for the Etowah Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the 1998 Gateway New Orleans, 1999 Gateway Myrtle Beach, 2001 Gateway New Orleans, and 2003 Gateway New Orleans Music Festivals, and for the Etowah Youth Symphony Orchestra at the 2001 Gateway New Orleans Music Festival.  The EYO was also selected to represent the State of Alabama in the Continental Harmony Project, an initiative sponsored by the American Composers Forum and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Under Gagliardo's direction, the Orchestras have performed numerous concerts both in the Etowah County, Alabama, area and abroad, including three highly acclaimed Mid-West tours and an East Coast tour;  appearances at the American Honor Orchestra Conference at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, at the Summer Teachers’ Institute of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum in Cleveland, at the Arts Advocacy Day 2000 Conference in Washington DC, and at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference; and "by-invitation" performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City, at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, at the National Music Festival celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the White House in Washington DC, for joint sessions of the Alabama State Legislature in Montgomery, and in Niceville, Florida, for performances sponsored by the Northwest Florida Symphony Association.  He will lead the ensembles of the EYO in their first international tour to England in June of 2005, and in an encore performance at Carnegie Hall in June of 2007. The Etowah Youth Orchestras have also commissioned and performed the world premieres of over 20 works, including the recording and World Premiere performance of the title track for the motion picture "The Last Call," composed by Gagliardo and Max Chain, and have released three compilation compact disc recordings, plus numerous complete live concert recordings, under Gagliardo's leadership.  Gagliardo has also been featured with the EYO in two documentaries for Alabama Public Television.  Two more World Premiere performances are scheduled for the 2004-05 season.   In addition to his duties with the Etowah Youth Orchestras, Gagliardo serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Jacksonville State University/Community Orchestra and adjunct faculty member at Jacksonville State University.

Before arriving in Alabama, Gagliardo served for two years as the Principal Conductor and Administrator of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of East Central Indiana, housed at Ball State University.  While at Ball State, he also was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Conductor for the School of Music's Composers' Forums and Student Composition Recitals.  He premiered a total of 19 new works, and was awarded the School of Music's Citizenship Award, recognizing his service to the School, in April of 1995.

In all, Gagliardo has performed the premieres of over 40 works, and has worked with numerous composers.  He has served as Guest Conductor of the 2003 All-West Tennessee Honor Orchestra Festival Senior Orchestra (Memphis), the Eastern Illinois University/Community Orchestra, the Alton and Wood River Municipal Bands, and at the 1997 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival.  He has also taught Music Theory and Composition, and has worked in marketing and production for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Gagliardo received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University, where he graduated from the University Honors Program Cum Laude, and a Master of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Ball State University.  He was named Outstanding Young Alumnus of Eastern Illinois University for 1997.  He was appointed President of the Alabama Orchestra Association in February of 1999, a position that he served in until May of 2003, and was a member of the Youth Orchestra Division Board of the American Symphony Orchestra League from 1995-2001.  He currently serves as the President of the Alabama State Chapter of ASTA w/NSOA, a position he has held since March 2004.  He has served as a presenter at the American Symphony Orchestra League's National Conference, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's Summer Teacher's Institute, and the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference, and will serve as a presenter at the 2005 ASTA w/NSOA National Conference in February of 2005.

Gagliardo is also active in the community, serving as the President of the Board Of Directors of the Humane Society of Etowah County, and coordinator for the HSEC's annual Paws On Broad Festival.  He also serves on the Festival Committee for Downtown Gadsden, Inc.  He resides in Glencoe, Alabama, with his wife Meleia and their five dogs, Daphne, Lady, Jake, Molly, and Brownie.