Mike is a Bay Area native, born in Oakland. He grew up in the Bay Area and attended
Cal State University, Hayward, majoring in music, studying with various brass players
from the Oakland Symphony, including principal trombonist Dan Livesay, principal
trumpeter Marv Nelson, and section trumpeter Tony Caviglia. During college, he
studied conducting with Denis de Coteau, Director of the San Francisco Ballet.
Subsequently, Mike was a long-term substitute music teacher at Marina High School
in the San Lorenzo School District. During his high school and college years,
he also gave private music lessons, some of which were sponsored by the San
Leandro School District's "Music Chest".
Mike has played with numerous groups in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Symphony and the Ice Follies. In the past, Mike traveled on several tours, including a performance representing the U.S. at the Expo 67 World's Fair in Montreal, which was sponsored and emceed by Bob Hope; performing for the Herbert von Karajan International Youth Orchestra Competition in Berlin, Germany, where the Oakland Youth Symphony won the Silver Medal; participating in a tour of Southern Black Universities for a series of concerts called "The Black Composer in America" and lastly, performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival to accompany Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and the Modern Jazz Quartet.
He has played regularly as principal trombonist for:
Mike is currently enjoying his retirement (from his day-job as a Procurement Analyst with NASA) by performing with various musical groups, including Horns A Plenty and the Golden Gate Park Band. Mike's wife is a violinist and professional part-time musician as well. Together they have one son.