Michael Pogudin is an American-based instrumental and film composer, currently pursuing his Masters in Composition at Royal Holloway, University of London. He began studying music in middle school and quickly took an interest in classical music and composition. Since then, he has studied with composers such as Igor Iachimciuc, Charles Peck, and David Bennet Thomas. He has had work premiered in concerts and festivals such as the Allentown Symphony New Chamber Series and the Penn State 2025 International Symposium. He has gone on to win several prizes in composition, such as the WBM Warsaw Competition's "First Prize Distinction," Chester County Band's 2026 Annual Composition Contest, and Temple University's 2026 Livingstone Undergraduate Research Award in Creative Works and Media Production.

Described as "emotionally layered" and "ravishingly beautiful," Michael's music enjoys telling a story and theme in each of his pieces that usually remains unknown with the intent being that the audience creates their own story as they listen.