Michelle Ptacek stands on a stage, playing an acoustic guitar with a microphone. Behind her is a large projection screen displaying a vintage illustration with gears around the image.

The Inventors

The Explorers

The Interrupted

Michelle Ptacek explores the history of creativity using biographies fused with music and storytelling. She specializes in taking true stories from the past and presenting them in an engaging way with folk music.

Michelle's original music is one part of a larger project focused on innovation throughout history, distilling research into songs, classes, and written articles about inventors, artists, authors, entrepreneurs, explorers, and more. Michelle owns an online education business and loves teaching in a variety of mediums about topics relevant to curious and passionate learners.

Show highlights from the past include the Des Moines Art Festival, Austin Artsworks Festival, La Crosse’s Great River Folk Festival, Minneapolis’ Lake Harriet BandShell, Madison’s Art Fair on the Square, and Wausau’s Festival of the Arts – among hundreds of other performances.

Michelle has shared the stage with musicians such as Pieta Brown, Bo Ramsey, and Lissie, and opened for musicians as diverse as Chris Koza, Koo Koo Kangaroo, and Joe and Vicki Price.

Michelle Ptacek stands on a stage, playing an acoustic guitar with a microphone. Behind her is a large projection screen displaying a vintage illustration.
Michelle Ptacek stands on a stage, playing an acoustic guitar with a microphone. Behind her is a large projection screen displaying a vintage illustration of six individuals.
Michelle Ptacek playing an acoustic guitar with a microphone. Behind her is a large projection screen with a blue background displaying a illustration of Edgar Allan Poe.

Michelle performs her one of a kind keynote concerts at:

  • Conferences
  • Private Events
  • Seminars
  • Corporate Trainings
  • Colleges
  • Schools