Michael Slatkin was born in New Jersey in 1967. He began studying the horn at age ten with Alan Orloff in New York. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in 1989, in Rochester, New York, having studied with Verne Reynolds for four years.

After Eastman Michael studied for two years with Phil Myers, Principal Hornist of the New York Philharmonic. In 1991, Michael joined the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as Assistant Principal Horn. He has appeared on many recordings with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and has also recorded with the New York Philharmonic. He has also been the Principal Hornist of Tel Aviv’s Musica Nova Ensemble since 1991.

Michael has been a member of the Israel Philharmonic Brass Quartet and the Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet and has appeared as a soloist with many Israeli orchestras. He is a founding member of the Unison Ensemble, represented by Monica Fallon Artist Management. He has been on the faculty of Tel Aviv University since 1996.