Vitali Michaelis was born in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, in the family of the artist-painter Wilhelm Michaelis.
After graduating from secondary school, he studied at the College of Music, specializing in conducting. Graduated from the State Conservatory, class of composition.
Stylistically, the composer's works can be defined as neo-classical, serial music, but the composer also works in "light" genres - electronic music, classical crossover.