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9/9/2010 2:20:02 AM - MC is now part of the 5th consecutive generation in his family to be a band conductor. How did this happen? Well, here’s the tail end of the story…
Mike was born and raised in Fargo, ND. Piano lessons at 8 led to trombone lessons at 12. In 7th Grade, Mike started his first band. Not a small combo, but a jazz band with his friends, (horn, flute, trumpet, alto sax, trombone, piano, drums, and MC on Tuba) performing his arrangement of Night Train. The Middle School director later made the band into a regular class!
Like many fortunate high school musicians, Mike had the pleasure of playing under the great Dr. Frederick Fennell as a member of his All-State band. Later, a first taste of NYC was encountered as member of the McDonald’s All-American High School Band & Jazz Band. This included a concert at Carnegie Hall with Maynard Ferguson. During this period, you could also catch Mike (and his sisters Ellen and Amy, now also band directors) in the Christianson Family band, The 7 C’s at the local VFW.
Off to college went MC to study with the great Buddy Baker at the University of Northern Colorado. Conducting study also began with/under Eugene Migliaro Corporan. One summer was spent checking out the L.A. scene as a member of the Disneyland All-American College Band. After 4 years of study, graduation not in sight, Mike got the call to go on tour with Ray Charles.
The 2 years of world touring was eventful, to say the least, including a harrowing 2 days of emergency bass subbing! Money was saved, college was finished, experience was gained, and so, shortly after winning the ITA’s Frank Rosolino Jazz Solo Award, Mike moved to NYC.
At the Manhattan School of Music, while accidentally getting his Master’s degree, Mike played under the baton of his private teacher Hal Janks in the MSM Wind Ensemble.
At New Jersey City University, Mike had the opportunity to take over a leave as the conductor of the Symphony of Winds & Percussion. At the end of the leave period, Mike filled the newly established post as Associate Conductor of the S of W&P, apprenticing to Nicholas Cerrato.
By now a member of the Broadway musician’s community, Mike got the call to put together a large, volunteer marching brass band to lead a protest in NYC-midtown. A formidable 80-piece unit thundered through the thick of the city that glorious day.
In his new hometown of Fair Lawn, NJ Mike was asked to start a volunteer community band to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the town, Founded in 1999, MC still leads the 40-member Fair Lawn Diamond Jubilee Band in 5 free concerts annually with members aged 14-81.
As a member of the Broadway musician’s community Mike was asked to form a volunteer band to celebrate Musician’s Local 802’s victory over the threat of the virtual orchestra. Thus, the Gotham Wind Symphony was born. Their first performance was in the middle of Times Square…during rush hour. The first sound they made was Brookmeyer. The next sound they made was, of course, Holst. Then Thad Jones, Bach, Sauter-Finegan, Grainger, and, of course, Sousa, a kind of new NYC approach with flexible, open-minded musicians.
The 5th generation brought it to NYC. Mike has 3 kids. Maybe they’ll need a wind band on Mars…. | | |
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 | gothamwindsymphony@artistshare.com | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Electronic Press Kit for Gotham Wind Symphony | | |
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