Originally a trumpet player, Michael Jacko began his conducting study at age 20 while pursuing a degree from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. During his last two years at Georgetown he served as an assistant conductor to the University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, and he worked as a clinician with the Wakefield (Youth) Wind Ensemble in Vienna, VA.

He is currently a candidate for a Master of Fine Arts degree and a Postgraduate Certificate in orchestral conducting at Bard College, scheduled to graduate in July of 2009. At Bard he has conducted the Conservatory Orchestra, the Bard Orchestra, the Chamber Singers, and the Symphonic Chorus. Michael has studied conducting with Rufus Jones and Harold Farberman at Georgetown and Bard, respectively.