Trombone
A native of Oakland, Mike grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Cal State University, Hayward, with a BA 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, most notably, the San Francisco Symphony and the Ice Follies. He also performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, accompanying such notable musicians as John Faddis, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and the Modern Jazz Quartet. Past groups also included principal trombonist for the Fremont Symphony, Cambrian Symphony, South Bay Symphony, Holy Names College Orchestra, the San Ramon Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the Chabot College Orchestra, and the municipal bands of Fremont and San Leandro, the latter for which he was also Assistant Director.
He regularly plays with the Redwood Chapel Orchestra, the Saratoga Symphony, Golden Gate Park Band, Hayward Municipal Band, Dave Altschuler Swingtime Band, and a sextet called, “Brass Ackwards”. He is now a retired civil servant. Mike’s wife is a violinist and professional part-time musician as well. Together they have one son.