Michael starting playing the trombone in Grade 6 and his first music teacher was an inspirational one: John McGuirk, currently the Artistic Director of the All-Canadian Jazz Festival. He was in good company as his classmate and friend Darren Johnston would go on to become one of "25 Trumpeters for the Future" (Downbeat Magazine, June 2007).
In high school, Michael was twice lucky with having jazz player Bill Holinaty at his teacher. This led to his membership with the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band and his work with Dr. Russ Weil. This group provided an opportunity to play in an exceptional ensemble that traveled to the United Stated to perform at the Tri-C Jazzfest, among others. In the USA, these student groups opened Michael's ears to the swinging, beautiful sounds that were possible with a jazz ensemble. Unforgettable was the trombone section that set aside their horns, picked up flutes and played as crisply and clearly as any orchestral wind section. Michael was also able to meet and listen to many jazz legends on these sojourns across the border, such as Louie Bellson, Dianne Reeves and the Count Basie Orchestra.
Out of high school, Michael would start a long and fruitful path in post-secondary education. He obtained an Applied Music Diploma from Mohawk College in Hamilton (1995), studying trombone with Terry Lukiwiski and the late Dave McMurdo. Next was a BM in jazz performance at the University of Toronto (1998), studying trombone with the late Jerry Johnson and composition with Phil Nimmons. While Michael was in Toronto, he formed a jazz quartet; two members are very familiar to the jazz community: David Braid and Mark McLean. What a pleasure it was to perform with these artists. At this point, Michael decided that pursuing a strict performance career would be difficult and unstable so he shifted his focus to education; he had always enjoyed his teaching and leadership roles in co-op and summer camp. This led to a MM in Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Miami (2000), studying trombone with Dante Luciani, composition with Ron Miller and arranging with Gary Lindsay. At this point, Michael had a lifetime opportunity to work as a musician on Royal Carribean's Legend of the Seas as it embarked on a world cruise. In just under a year, he returned and started his Doctor of Music Education degree at Indiana University (graduating in 2011) in Bloomington, IN. While at I.U., he studied jazz, in all its facets, with David Baker, performed with the Indiana University Jazz Ensemble and studied trombone with Carl Lenthe. During this time, he was also trombonist and arranger for the top funk/soul group in Indiana: Soulshine.
Michael moved back to Canada in 2005, driving back and forth to Bloomington to finish his doctorate. For several years, he worked as an elementary and high school music teacher in the independent schools of the GTA. During this time, Michael toured Italy and Austria with the Jazz Mechanics (July, 2006) and Ireland with the Brampton Concert Band (July, 2007). In 2011, he changed his teaching focus to the post-secondary level, joining the faculty of several colleges and universities in Ontario. Currently, he is on faculty at Georgian College. Initially, Michael was offered courses in popular music and culture, and music history. This became a significant portion of his portfolio, although he added more classes in low brass methods, jazz pedagogy, multidisciplinary research, and world religions to his teaching load. In 2012, Michael gave a series of clinics for Newmarket, Ontario's After Hours Big Band and afterwards, he was asked to remain on as their musical director. This band has made remarkable progress over the past few years. It has a busy performance schedule and is starting to be showcased at jazz festivals across Ontario. Besides leading the big band, Michael stays busy with three young children, a variety of courses, clinics, commissions and performances with various bands around Toronto. As of 2018, he will be joining The Octokats, a Toronto small jazz group with a cool, West coast sound.
In high school, Michael was twice lucky with having jazz player Bill Holinaty at his teacher. This led to his membership with the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band and his work with Dr. Russ Weil. This group provided an opportunity to play in an exceptional ensemble that traveled to the United Stated to perform at the Tri-C Jazzfest, among others. In the USA, these student groups opened Michael's ears to the swinging, beautiful sounds that were possible with a jazz ensemble. Unforgettable was the trombone section that set aside their horns, picked up flutes and played as crisply and clearly as any orchestral wind section. Michael was also able to meet and listen to many jazz legends on these sojourns across the border, such as Louie Bellson, Dianne Reeves and the Count Basie Orchestra.
Out of high school, Michael would start a long and fruitful path in post-secondary education. He obtained an Applied Music Diploma from Mohawk College in Hamilton (1995), studying trombone with Terry Lukiwiski and the late Dave McMurdo. Next was a BM in jazz performance at the University of Toronto (1998), studying trombone with the late Jerry Johnson and composition with Phil Nimmons. While Michael was in Toronto, he formed a jazz quartet; two members are very familiar to the jazz community: David Braid and Mark McLean. What a pleasure it was to perform with these artists. At this point, Michael decided that pursuing a strict performance career would be difficult and unstable so he shifted his focus to education; he had always enjoyed his teaching and leadership roles in co-op and summer camp. This led to a MM in Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Miami (2000), studying trombone with Dante Luciani, composition with Ron Miller and arranging with Gary Lindsay. At this point, Michael had a lifetime opportunity to work as a musician on Royal Carribean's Legend of the Seas as it embarked on a world cruise. In just under a year, he returned and started his Doctor of Music Education degree at Indiana University (graduating in 2011) in Bloomington, IN. While at I.U., he studied jazz, in all its facets, with David Baker, performed with the Indiana University Jazz Ensemble and studied trombone with Carl Lenthe. During this time, he was also trombonist and arranger for the top funk/soul group in Indiana: Soulshine.
Michael moved back to Canada in 2005, driving back and forth to Bloomington to finish his doctorate. For several years, he worked as an elementary and high school music teacher in the independent schools of the GTA. During this time, Michael toured Italy and Austria with the Jazz Mechanics (July, 2006) and Ireland with the Brampton Concert Band (July, 2007). In 2011, he changed his teaching focus to the post-secondary level, joining the faculty of several colleges and universities in Ontario. Currently, he is on faculty at Georgian College. Initially, Michael was offered courses in popular music and culture, and music history. This became a significant portion of his portfolio, although he added more classes in low brass methods, jazz pedagogy, multidisciplinary research, and world religions to his teaching load. In 2012, Michael gave a series of clinics for Newmarket, Ontario's After Hours Big Band and afterwards, he was asked to remain on as their musical director. This band has made remarkable progress over the past few years. It has a busy performance schedule and is starting to be showcased at jazz festivals across Ontario. Besides leading the big band, Michael stays busy with three young children, a variety of courses, clinics, commissions and performances with various bands around Toronto. As of 2018, he will be joining The Octokats, a Toronto small jazz group with a cool, West coast sound.