Mike, originally from Nova Scotia, moved to Toronto where he received his Bachelor of Music and Diploma in Jazz Studies from Humber College. He has studied with Canadian and international saxophone greats like Pat LaBarbera, Kirk MacDonald, Kelly Jefferson, Don Palmer, and Mark Promane, as well as former Toronto Symphony Orchestra flautist Virginia Markson. While at Humber he received the St. John’s Music Award (performance), Duke Ellington Memorial Award (arranging), and Merriam School of Music Award (jazz pedagogy), and had the opportunity to perform with musicians such as Randy Brecker, Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett, Steve Gadd, and Dave Liebman.
As a teacher, Mike has been teaching saxophone, woodwinds, theory, ear training, improvisation since 2001. In 2005 he wrote an article for the Nova Scotia Music Educators Journal about the importance of providing and sustaining creative, educational, and career enhancing opportunities for young musicians.
As a versatile musician, Mike has worked with Nova Sinfonia, The Funktion, Plan C, La Mezcla, Luis Mario Ochoa and Cimarron, Nick “Brownman” Ali, Toronto Jazz Orchestra, Don Thompson, and NOJO. He has performed throughout Canada, United States, and Cuba in clubs, theatres, numerous international jazz and blues festivals, pit orchestras, and can be heard on JazzFM, CBC Radio Live, jingles, Canadian television show “The Really Big Flip,” and several albums in a variety of musical styles from Jazz, Classical, Blues, R&B, Latin, and World Music.
Mike currently keeps busy composing/arranging music, teaching, and currently performs with the Max Senitt Quartet, Lansdowne Sax Quartet, The Thing Is, The Homeless Blues Band, Nueva Fusion, and others around Toronto.
