Michael has performed worldwide with internationally acclaimed artists for almost 40 years
Described as ‘an outstanding artist’ (BBC Music Magazine) and a ‘hugely respected pianist’ (Classic FM Magazine), in 2014 Michael’s playing was reviewed in the USA’s prestigious Fanfare magazine as ‘nothing short of amazing’.
Michael studied at the Royal Academy of Music from 1975 to 1980 with Alexander Kelly, Rex Stephens and John Streets. Subsequently, he studied privately with Geoffrey Parsons and Greville Rothon.
For almost 40 years, he has performed in the world’s major concert halls with internationally acclaimed artists including violinists Cho-Liang Lin, Anne Akiko Meyers, Antje Weithaas and Xue Wei, cellist Ofra Harnoy and singers Charles Daniels, Bernarda Fink and Stephan Loges, among others. He has also collaborated with the Bridge, Castalian, Chilingirian, Coull, Dante and Wihan string quartets. Since 2006, he has undertaken five major recital tours of Japan with violinist Ryu Goto, with whom he has also performed at Carnegie Hall.
As a member of three chamber ensembles – the Dussek Piano Trio, Endymion and Primavera – Michael performs regularly at Britain’s major concert venues. With Endymion, he gave opening concerts at Kings Place and has appeared in Wigmore Hall’s Coffee Concerts and Chamber Music Season.
Michael’s discography is extensive and includes 23 CDs in Dutton Epoch’s highly acclaimed series of recordings of 20th-century British composers. These include Edwin York Bowen’s first three Piano Concertos with the BBC Concert Orchestra under Vernon Handley; the first Concerto was selected for Fanfare magazine’s illustrious Hall of Fame. Other solo recordings include works by Benjamin Britten and Carl Nielsen, while his recording of Edmund Rubbra’s Violin Sonatas with Krysia Osostowicz was nominated for a Gramophone Award. Michael has recorded several CDs with Ryu Goto for Deutsche Grammophon.
Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2018, he was appointed a Professor of the University of London. He has given masterclasses at the Britten-Pears School, Royal College of Music and in Beijing, Hannover, St Petersburg, Weimar and Zhuhai. He is a regular tutor at The Tunnell Trust masterclasses on the island of Coll.