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Michael Collins
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Michael Collins is a Los Angeles and Phoenix area-based composer, arranger, and pianist specializing in composing and arranging for large jazz ensemble. His unique and inspired compositions have been performed regularly by the USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra and a growing number of jazz ensembles around the world.
Mike possesses an unmistakable and revolutionary compositional style. It is grounded by an expert fluency in advanced jazz theory. It is fueled by a lifelong love of the music of Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Gil Evans, and Jim McNeely. It has been shaped by an education that culminated in a master's degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California's prestigious Thornton School of Music under the tutelage of Kim Richmond, Russ Ferrante, and Shelly Berg. It is defined by imagination, motion, propulsion, and reverence.
The development of this powerful style began with Mike's studies in classical piano at the age of nine. While he continued his education in piano, he began serious study of the clarinet in his school's band program; other instruments followed, and by the time of his high school graduation, Mike had performed publicly on piano, clarinet, saxophone, tuba, and drumset. As a member of the Young Sounds of Arizona under the direction of Neal Finn, Mike was twice honored with scholarships that allowed him to participate in the Jazz Combo Workshop at the University of North Texas, where his knowledge and application of jazz theory grew exponentially. When the time came for college, he enrolled at Northern Arizona University on a full clarinet scholarship.
While at NAU, Mike's appreciation of and fluency with a variety of musical instruments continued to grow as he completed the music education course of study, but jazz piano and composition began to rise to the top of his musical aspirations; he premiered original works at every NAU jazz concert in which he participated. Mike was very fortunate to receive a first-rate education in musical taste from the Director of Jazz Studies at NAU and Tonight Show Band alumnus Joel DiBartolo, and was equally fortunate to spend hour after hour of his summer months in Phoenix, Arizona studying with a true legend at the "Granada Conservatory" (Armand Boatman's living room on Granada Street).
In being accepted into the Jazz Studies master's program at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, Mike was extremely privileged to study piano and composition with some of the very best musicians and teachers in the world, including Kim Richmond, Russ Ferrante, Shelly Berg, and Jason Goldman. These instructors were monumental in expanding and refining his compositional and pianistic style.
Seen and heard at prestigious venues across Phoenix and Los Angeles, Mike's style as a pianist is ever-evolving, though you'll always hear plenty of chops, bebop, and the lyrical sensitivity which personifies Michael Collins. To jazz lovers and musicians around the world, Mike's style as a composer is unique, imaginative, and worth checking out!
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