"We acknowledge the love and care you have given Michael," he said.
"You could not have done more."
Michael's cello took centre stage as the crowd then sang songs in his honour.
Siblings Anna and Jonathan speak at Michael's funeral. Photo/Stephen Parker
People were in fits of laughter as they heard tales from his siblings of how Michael avoided the housework, had a fiery temper and never liked losing at games.
"He wasn't happy with the title of accompanist, so I let him be my second soloist," his younger sister Anna said.
"Playing together was something that's uniquely ours."
Anna, 17, spoke with grace and confidence as she told tales of her brother.
"I had a pink diary which I had my own code for writing in.
"He once stole it and wrote me a letter in it, in my own code. I was furious, but my mum only laughed."
His dad Christian Pilaar was the final family member to speak.
"He was as special as anyone who is here among us.
"We are all walking breathing miracles and let's not take that for granted."
Mr Pilaar said Michael's life was a picture of what it meant to live.
"He had a wonderful sense for the ridiculous, and he just lived that."
Western Heights High School principal Jim Gemmell. Photo/Stephen Parker
Speakers for the ceremony included Western Heights High School principal Jim Gemmell, music teacher Adam Hague, church youth leader Ed Masters and friend from home school Ash Gower-Rudman.
Mr Gemmell said he separated all musicians into two categories, open door musicians and closed door musicians.
