About Mike

Mike is the recent recipient of a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to record an album of his original music with his symphonic rock band, The Living Orchestra, and producer Garth Richardson (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against Machine). He performs almost 200 shows a year in the US and Canada as the lead singer-guitarist for party-folk band The Whiskeydicks (who also received a CCA grant for their musical), and as a solo singer-guitarist-pianist.

 

Mike began studying piano at the age of 5, and began playing guitar and drums, composing and singing at age 12. Since then he has performed over 2000 shows in groups ranging from rock, pop, and metal to classical, Celtic, world music, and jazz. He has obtained a Performer’s ARCT Diploma in piano from The Royal Conservatory of Music, a Piano Diploma from Capilano University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition from the University of British Columbia.

In addition to his main bands, The Living Orchestra, The Whiskeydicks, and his his solo act, Mike has toured across the US as the pianist-guitarist for classical crossover group Vivace, has toured extensively in Europe as keyboardist and backing vocalist for Melanie Dekker, and plays piano and percussion for The Plastic Acid Orchestra.

Mike has composed and arranged for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Plastic Acid Orchestra, Vivace, Turning Point Ensemble, The Ad Mare Wind Quintet, The Black Dog String Quartet, The Norwegian Cruise Gem Band, The UBC Guitar Quartet, cellist-songwriter Cris Derksen, and violinist Elyse Jacobson. He has written songs for/with The Living, The Whiskeydicks, and  Melanie Dekker.

Mike has studied voice with John Henny, Spencer Welch, Jeffrey Skouson, Greg Enriquez, Guy Babusek, Rebecca Lam, and Geordie Roberts; guitar with Dave Martone, piano with Terence Dawson, David Vandereyk, and Ross Taggart; composition with Dorothy Chang, Keith Hamel and Mark Armanini; drums with Jay Deachman and Morgan Childs; and accordion with Jelena Milojevic. He offers lessons on every instrument he plays, currently has over 30 private students, and is currently an IVA Certified Level I Voice Instructor.

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