Michael Stahl

Michael Stahl was a sound engineer and camera operator best known for his work on high-profile events like the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show in 2012. Featuring Beyoncé and a special appearance by her former girl group, Destiny's Child, the performance was the second most-watched halftime show in history, with 104 million viewers. Stahl was nominated for an Emmy Award for the show in the category of outstanding technical direction, camerawork, or video control for a miniseries, movie or a special.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., he performed in bands throughout high school and college. After graduating from college, he opened a small recording studio in Northeastern Pennsylvania that specialized in producing and recording advertising jingles, and renting sound gear out for live events. The studio closed in the early ‘70s, but Stahl found work at Clair Brothers Audio, one of the world’s oldest and largest live sound companies. He stayed for more than a decade and served as a chief sound engineer for the road staff, working on tours for artists including Michael Jackson, Queen, Chicago and Kenny Rogers.

After moving on to work at Mountain Productions, and then Maryland Sound International, he landed at ATK Audiotek. He started as the general manager and eventually acquired ATK and was named president, growing the staff from six to 70 employees.

Now recognized as one of the premier audio companies in the United States, ATK counts among its productions: the Super Bowl, Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, American Idol, The X Factor, The Voice and Dancing with the Stars.

Stahl died September 20, 2014. He was 68.