Michael Jarrell was born in 1958 in Geneva. Studied piano and percussion, as well as composition with Eric Gaudibert, at the Conservatoire de Genève, 1977–80. Studied composition with Klaus Huber and Brian Ferneyhough in Freiburg, 1981–87. Numerous awards, including the Beethovenpreis (1986), the Siemens-Förderpreis (1990) and scholarships from the Cité internationale des Arts (1986–88) and the Villa Medici in Rome (1988–89). Professor of composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (1993–2003) and at the Conservatoire de Genève (since 2004).