Mike discovered at an impressionable age that the trumpet has a fantastic high register! Gaining a music degree and qualifying as a teacher, he settled in Bath and fitted in a busy freelance trumpet-playing career, including playing for Bath Philharmonia and many choral societies across the region. He also specialises in authentic performance playing natural trumpet including many performances for Bath Baroque and Bradford Baroque Band. Mike has appeared regularly in the pit playing for shows in Bath and Bristol, and plays for the outstanding Premiere Brass Quintet. With the aid of friend Matt Finch he co-founded the Gorgeous Big Horns Big Band (GBH) and has been fortunate to work with Pee Wee Ellis, Jason Rebello, Mike Mower, Andy Sheppard, Iain Ballamy, Mark Nightingale and John Law. In 2024, Mike was recognised for his outstanding contribution to music education in the Wiltshire Music Education Awards and continues to build connections and collaborate with the country’s leading musicians. He leads the jazz programme at the Wiltshire Music Centre, developing young jazz players and preparing students for conservatoire courses alongside the finest jazz musicians in the UK. He is also the tutor for Wiltshire Jazz Academy and has been a tutor for the popular weekend jazz course, Play Jazz Weekend.