Michael started playing the cornet at the age of five under the direction of his father Leslie. He played with the Salvation Army until the age of ten when he left to join the Jayess Junior Band, gaining prinicipal cornet chair at the age of twelve.
At the age of thirteen, Michael joined the Hammonds Hawley band, again on Principal Cornet. During this time the band came third in the fourth section of the National Brass Band finals in London.At the age of fifteen, Michael was undertaking lessons with Chris Wood , the Principal cornet player of the Hammonds Sauce Works Band, and was invited to join the Championship section band on repiano cornet. During this stint at Hammonds, Michael was also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, where he completed seven courses and worked his way up to the ranks of solo cornet.At eighteen, Michael left playing behind to undertake a degree in Podiatric Medicine at Northampton University. During this time Michael was called back to “service” where he played for the Brighouse and Rastrick band at the All England Masters Championships, and Desford Colliery band on a tour to Holland. During his University days he was also a member of the Young Ambassadors Band of Great Britain completing a number of tours to Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the USA and Canada. Following his studies, Michael returned to his roots and joined the YBS Concert Brass on Principal cornet.In the year 2000, Michael received “the call” to audition for the The Black Dyke Band on Solo cornet. During his time at Black Dyke, the band travelled to America, Canada and Bermuda on two occassions. He also recorded a number of CD’s with the band and played in some of the finest concert halls in Europe. Michael’s old music teacher Roger Webster also came back to the band on Principal cornet and in October of 2001 Michael fulfilled his childhood dream of winning the The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall with Black Dyke.In 2003 Michael took over as Musical Director of the YBS Concert Brass Band gaining a first place at the Yorkshire regional areas in the second section and following this up with a second place at the Nationals. Michael was also asked to conduct the Cowny band for the second section Welsh areas gaining second place.In 2005 Michael moved to Dublin and is delighted to have been made the Associate conductor of the Arklow Band in 2009.
