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Michael was born In Derry, Northern Ireland and, from an early age, he developed a passion for music, learning the violin and piano and singing in choirs. Being exposed to the instrumental and choral music of the great composers drove him to pursue a career as a musician and to eventually become a composer himself.
Initially opting to focus on violin playing, Michael received some of the finest training available, learning from the Brodsky and Medici String Quartets, as well as winning a scholarship to the internationally-acclaimed Apple Hill Summer School in New Hampshire, USA. These experiences were key to the evolution of his own musical language, and soon after returning from the USA he began to compose.
In 2008, Michael graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with first class honours and became an SPNM Shortlisted composer for his concert work. Upon graduating, he embarked upon an apprenticeship with the Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared, working on film and radio projects and honing his talent in screen composition.
In 2009, he orchestrated and arranged for Australian guitarist James Collins’ debut album, “The Way You Look Tonightâ€, now an exciting commercial release in Australia. Last year also saw him signed up by the publishing company Woodwork Music.
In 2010, Michael has assisted the award-winning Spanish composer Joan Valent in scoring the film documentary “How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?â€, premiered at this year’s Berlinale. He will continue this exciting collaboration in the coming year, along with several concert music commissions and work with fellow UK-based composers at Neokitsch and Blunatic.
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