Biography
At age 10, Mike picked up the alto saxophone for the very first time, ever since then music has been a driving force in his life. He studied bassoon with local woodwind instructor Michael Monte, who introduced Mike to the world of jazz. Later he studied jazz saxophone and added clarinet and flute to his repertoire of instruments. While in high school he performed in community orchestras, concert and symphonic bands, marching and jazz bands. In addition to ensembles he took courses in piano, music theory/harmony, jazz improvisation and music history.
In 1991 Mike entered into the music program at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell. While at Lowell he played bassoon in the symphonic band, orchestra, and various chamber groups and also played tenor saxophone in the school's big band, jazz combos, and a saxophone quartet. His studies consisted of classical theory and harmony, music history, piano, and ear training. He soon left UMASS to concentrate on jazz/commercial music at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston.
While at Berklee, Mike studied saxophone with James Odgren, Dino Giovoni, and Art Blakey alumnus Bill Peirce. He also studied flute with the Dean of Performance, Matt Marvuglio. His academic studies included contemporary harmony/arranging, classical counterpoint, jazz improvisation, jazz piano, electric bass, and contemporary ear training. Mike played saxophone for various big bands, jazz combos, saxophone quartets, student arranging projects and in two of the schools best ensembles: Phil Wilson's Rainbow Band and the Back Bay Brass. In addition to saxophone he played flute and bassoon in the school's symphonic band, as well as on film scoring projects for other students. It was after doing this that Mike's passion turned to film scoring.
His composition/arranging instructors included two Buddy Rich alumni, arranger Ted Pease, and trombonist Phil Wilson. While in Boston he composed and arranged for various ensembles, including the Rainbow Band. He also performed and arranged music for a local dance/music group's performance of the Beatles' 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band.' Additionally, he was an active performer in various small musicals, jazz combos and Italian bands around the Boston and Providence areas.
After graduating from Berklee in 1997, with a degree in Jazz Composition/Performance, he began work on Carnival Cruise Lines performing Broadway/Vegas type shows five to six nights per week in the main lounge show-band. In addition to the main lounge performances, he also performed in both jazz and Dixieland combos.
In 1998 he began studies at the University of North Texas, where he played lead tenor in the illustrious UNT lab band program and played in several small jazz combos. Outside of school he regularly performed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with local swing bands, and worked as a Finale engraver, and arranger for various local artists.
In 1999 Mike returned to Carnival as a Musical Director for the ship lounge band. His duties included overseeing all of the onboard musical acts, attending production meetings, handling contracts, rehearsing and conducting the show-band and taking care of musician evaluations.
In 2001 Mike relocated to Los Angeles. Here he further expanded his compositional skills by studying privately with famed L.A. film composer Jack Smalley, who has worked over thirty years in Los Angeles. He also studied orchestration with Scott Smalley at the Film Music Institute and at UCLA Extension. While in L.A. he has worked as a performer, arranger and copyist. Other experience includes MIDI transcription, personal studio setup and assembling PC's for audio/music applications. He has done Finale engraving work for the USC ensemble "Alaje" and for books written by guitarist and composer Christopher Mello, which will be published by Mel Bay and Sher Music. Now his passion, wisdom, experience and reliability are available to service all the musical needs of any project.
