Mike Cohen, MA is founder of Kirtan Leader Institute. Since 2010 he has trained and apprenticed thousands of aspiring and emerging Kirtan Leaders across the globe, from total beginners to dozens he has guided to create/release Kirtan albums, play at festivals and tour nationally.

A life-long musician with ​over two decades experience developing and coaching leaders, Mike has created a curriculum that supports total ​b​eginners in quickly and easily learning to play chants from their favorite Kirtan artists (like Krishna Das and Snatam Kaur) without needing to understand or learn ​complicated systems such as Western or Indian Classical music (Sargam). Training for advanced students expands ​i​nto topics such as (i) Advanced Musicianship, (ii) Myth and Spirituality (iii) How to Share Chant with Others, (iv) Community Building, (v) Chant Writing, and more. 

Mike has released four critically-acclaimed full length Kirtan albums, ​i​ncluding two ​created with Grammy Award-nominated producer Ben Leinbach (Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, Deva Premal). ​Since 2008 Mike has toured North America, offering accessible and potent Kirtan events ​a​t yoga studios, healing centers and yoga/chant festivals. In 2014 he had the honor of opening up for ​the legendary Krishna Das at Bhakti Fest Midwest. Mike lives in Boulder, CO where he regularly shares high energy Kirtan events with his band (Mike Cohen & The Shakti Groove) and trains Kirtan Leaders to share the exquisite practice of sacred chant.