Michael Thomas Britt was a renowned musical performer in demand throughout the country as a musical artist of classical organ literature and a silent film accompanist. He was an active church musician, choral conductor, piano and organ teacher, solo and collaborative recitalist, and was instrumental in commissioning new music, by both prominent and emerging composers, for organ, choir and congregation. He performed many world premieres during his lifetime.

As a solo concert artist, Michael gave performances at prominent sacred and secular venues, including Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and National City Christian Church in Washington DC, The Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Riverside Church in New York City, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Pittsburgh. This summer, Michael gave solo concerts at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and at the Pori Organ Festival in Pori, Finland, among others.

He was an annual performer at Princeton University Chapel where he accompanied presentations of classic silent films, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame , The Phantom of The Opera , The Three Musketeers . He was featured on Maryland Public Television; performed at Baltimore's Senator Theater where he accompanied silent films for the National Film Registry, sponsored by the Library of Congress; he was a frequent performer at The Byrd Theater in Richmond VA, the Palace Theater in Cleveland, OH, in foreign embassies, cultural institutes and diplomatic residences. He gave annual July 4 ^th patriotic concerts in Ft. Worth, Texas at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church.

In 1980, Michael was appointed Associate Organist at the Shrine of the Little Flower and in 1981 was appointed its Minister of Music where he served for 26 years. Until his death, he remained Organist Emeritus. In 2006, he became Director of Music at Saint Margaret Parish Church in Bel Air, MD. In 2012, Michael was appointed Minister of Music and Organist at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Bolton Hill, Baltimore, a position held before him by legendary concert organists Virgil Fox and Dr. John Walker. Along with Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, Michael remained Organist for Beth-El Congregation synagogue in Pikesville until his death. Earlier positions included Organist at Stone Chapel United Methodist and Arbutus United Methodist. Michael was a founder of the Baltimore Archdiocesan Choir and Co-Director for four years.

Michael was the House Organist at The Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD, a position he especially relished, where he accompanied their annual silent film series on the large screen and performed for other cinematic events and showings. He accompanied films of Lon Chaney, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Greta Garbo, Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and others. In Baltimore, MD, he was instrumental in procuring and overseeing the installation of the mighty Wurlitzer theater organ in the historic ballroom of The Garrett-Jacobs Mansion in Mount Vernon.

Michael was a prominent member of the American Guild of Organists and twice served as chapter Dean in addition to Sub-Dean. He was an active member of The Organ Historical Society, involved in the planning and execution of performance events and regional conventions. He lent his talents to diverse local organizations, churches, special causes and musical activities, from ArtScape performances to private and public-school music programs where he was dedicated to musical activities at Archbishop Curley High School, Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School, Lansdowne High School, his alma mater, Westminster Hall at The University of Maryland School of Law and The Wilkes School at Grace and St. Peter's.

Michael began piano studies as a child with Gwendolyn Logston. He later entered the Peabody Preparatory School at age 12, studying with Joyze Sutherland, James Warthen and organ with Gretchen Benchoff. In 1979 he entered the Peabody Conservatory of Music and studied organ with Dr. Paul L. Davis and Improvisation and Sacred Music with Arthur Rhea. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor's Degree in Organ Performance, while holding the Richard L. Phelps Award, and he was also a three-time recipient of the Richard Ross Award for organ. Subsequently, he studied with Thomas Spacht, Donald Sutherland, John Rose, John Walker, and Marie-Louise Langlais in Paris. Michael was on the teaching faculty of the Community College of Baltimore County as Instructor of Piano at the time of his death.

Michael was born in Baltimore, Maryland, July 06, 1961, and died at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, September 14, 2022, following a short illness. He was the son of Martin Peter Britt, Sr. and Kathleen Marguerite Britt (Maiden name, Weaver). His maternal grandmother, Marguerite Weaver, was an organist at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore at the end of the silent film era. Michael is survived by George K. Bareford (Spouse), Martin Peter Britt, Jr. (Brother), Mary Bistrick (Aunt), cousins, including Margaret Johnson, Joan Bayne, Leslie Glass, Kathy Howat, Louis Britt, Christine Britt Warner and his much beloved Irish Setter, Beauregard.

A Memorial Service will be held at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1316 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217 on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. with an Organ Prelude starting at 2:30 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael T. Britt Fund at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church to commission new music for the organ, choir, and congregation.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church, 3500 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21213 on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 3:00 P.M. with an Organ Prelude starting at 2:30 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Michael T. Britt Fund at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church to commission new music for the organ, choir, and congregation.