Michelle Louise Tumes (born 1971) is an Australian contemporary Christian musician from Adelaide. In 1993, she moved to the United States and has released five studio albums, Listen (1998), Center of My Universe (2000), Dream (2001), Michelle Tumes (2006) and Christmas Is Here (2007).

Career

Michelle Louise Tumes was born in 1971 and grew up in Adelaide.^[1] She has a younger sister and younger brother. Tumes learned piano from the age of four years, and as a teenager was enrolled into a classical piano course.^[2] She first signed with an Australian publisher, but by 1993 had moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She wrote songs for Christian contemporary musicians such as Jaci Velasquez and Jump5.^[2] In 1997 she signed with Sparrow Records, her debut album, Listen, was released in 1998.

Her music has become popular worldwide, frequently being played on radio stations for the genre. Her style is a blend of soft acoustic pop with an ethereal element. She appeared on the Thomas Kinkade 2001 album, Music of Light, with Rob Mathes and Bill Miller. It included her 1998 hit, "Healing Waters", which was co-written by Tumes with Matt Husemann of Franklin, Tennessee. She also composed and performed songs in the movie No Greater Love.^{[citation needed]}

In 2015, she began working as the music director at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, California.^[3] She left that job in March 2023.^[4]

Personal life

Michelle Tumes married Douglas Higgins on 26 December 1999.^[1]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

• Listen (1998; Sparrow Records)
• Center of My Universe (2000; Sparrow Records)
• Dream (2001; Sparrow Records)
• Michelle Tumes (2006; Levantar Records)

Compilations and EPs

• Very Best of Michelle Tumes (2006; Sparrow Records)
• Christmas Is Here (2007; Levantar Records)
• Greatest Hits (2008; EMI CMG Label Group)

Other appearances

• Hear and Beyond, Various Artists ("Listen") 1996
• Experiencing God, Various Artists ("All Your Works Are Wonderful") 1998
• Listen to Our Hearts Vol. 1, Various Artists ("What a Wondrous Love Is This" and "Heaven Will Be Near Me") 1998
• Get Real Music Sampler, Various Artists ("Heaven Will Be Near Me") 1998
• Heaven and Earth: A Tapestry of Worship, Various Artists ("For the Glory of Your Name" and "My Dwelling Place") 1999
• To Have & To Hold: 15 Songs of Love & Marriage, Various Artists ("My Constant Love") 1999
• Streams, Various Artists ("Hold On") 1999
• Thomas Kinkade: Music of Light (features Rob Mathes and Tumes) 2000
• Keep The Faith 2000, Various Artists ("He's Watching Over You") 2000
• The Mercy Project, Various Artists ("Sanctuary") 2000
• Hear It First New Music Sampler, Various Artists ("Dream") 2001
• Your Love Broke Through: The Worship Songs of Keith Green, Various Artists ("There Is a Redeemer") 2002
• Lost in Wonder: Voices of Worship (features Tumes, Susan Ashton and Christine Dente) 2005
• The Wonderful Cross, Various Artists ("In Christ Alone" and "Beautiful Savior (All My Days)") 2007
• 90's Ultimate Collection, Various Artists ("For the Glory of Your Name") 2007
• The Worship Lounge, Various Artists ("Your Love Falls Down") 2008
• Worship for the Evening, Various Artists (For the Glory of Your Name" and "Love Falls Down") 2008
• Be Still & Know: Peaceful Voices for Quite Moments Various Artists ("Christ of Hope") 2009
• Meditate & Worship, Various Artists ("He's Watching Over You") 2009
• No Greater Love (Soundtrack) 2009