About Michael J. Miles

• Musician

• Composer

• Performing Artist

• Musical Playwright

• Educator


When Pete Seeger first heard Michael Miles, he sent a letter to Michael saying that "in all my 70 years this is among the most beautiful recordings I’ve ever heard...it is enough to make me want to learn the banjo all over again.”

Michael Miles is one of America’s most inventive clawhammer banjo players.   Add guitar, vocals, jazz instruments, orchestras and complex historically-themed theatrical presentations to the mix and, two decades later, Michael has a critically acclaimed catalog of original compositions, stage performances, music CD’s and music instruction books.
 

Michael Miles performance credits include the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution, Ravinia Festival, Harris Theatre in Chicago, American University in Beirut, and the Royal Opera Theatre in Marrakesh.

From 1984-1998, Michael served as the Program Director at the Old Town School of Folk Music bringing the school to international acclaim.   Under his guidance the student population grew from 200 students to over 4000.  From 2005-2007, Michael was honored as the school's first ever Artist-In-Residence. He remains as active member of the faculty teaching clawhammer banjo and fingerstyle guitar.  
 

With an MA in Music Performance and Pedagogy, Michael is also a music educator whose work ranges from introducing kindergarten students to their earliest musical experiences to leading postgraduate study for professional musicians and music teachers.
 

Current projects include new fingerstyle guitar arrangements of the Great American Songbook and the works of Stevie Wonder; new compositions for the banjo and expanded ensemble; and new stage productions.
 


 

 

2013 Performances 

April 4-15  TOUR ACROSS IRELAND!
 
MICHAEL J. MILES ON IRISH RADIO
April 6, www.Shanonside.ie at 10am
April 6, www.RTE.ie at 10pm with Sandy Harsh
 
"AMERICAN BANJO IN IRELAND CONCERT"
Featuring Ken Perlman and Michael Miles,
April 8, Kilworth Arts Center, Kilworth, County Cork
April 9, Sixmilebridge, County Clare
Both shows at 8pm.  Info at (087) 792-1771
 
"FROM SENEGAL TO SEEGER:
Stories of the American Banjo" (one-man-show)
After standing ovations in Ireland in 2012 at the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, Michael brings his one-man show back to Ireland for a more performances. 
April 10, Klonakilty, County Cork (tent) 
April 11, St. John's Theatre, Listowel, County Kerry
Performance at 8:00pm.  Info:  (068) 22 566 
April 12, Market Theatre, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare
Performance at 8:00pm, Info:  (087) 688 1650 
April 13-14, Banjo Festival, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway
Banjo Workshop, 2pm, Saturday 4/13
Senegal to Seeger, 8pm Saturday, 4/13
Jam Session, 2pm, Sunday 4/14


Saturday, April 20, at 7:00pm
IN CONCERT WITH TOM PAXTON
Michael performs an opening set and then accompanies the legendary Tom Paxton for the evening.   Paxton penned classic hits "Ramblin Boy," "Last Thing On My MInd," and "Bottle of Wine."   Tickets

May 4, 2013, 7:30pm
"OLD TOWN ON THE ROAD"
Corky Siegel & Chamber Blues
Michael J. Miles
Sons of the Never Wrong 
Wheaton College, Wheaton IL  Tickets

Michael Miles joins harmonica legend Corky Siegel, The Chamber Blues String Quartet and the Sons of the Never Wrong in an extraordinary triple bill.   Miles' last CD, col•lage, featured members of both these groups.  This will be a very special night of collaboration. 

 

Friday, May 24, 7:30pm
"CHICAGO CITY WINERY PRESENTS..."
Sons of the Never Wrong with Michael J. Miles

Michael opens the concert for his musical comrades, the Sons of the Never Wrong and will be joined by bassist John Abbey, for the presentation of some explosive new arrangements.  Tickets 

 

SUMMER UNIVERSITY CLASSES

June 10-14, Music of the 20th Century for Guitar"
VanderCook College of Music, Chicago 

June 17-21, Guitar for the Non-Guitarist
Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA

June 24-28, American Folk Instruments & History
Villanova University, Philadelphia, PA

July 1-5, Beginning Guitar Skills
VanderCook College of Music, Chicago 

July 8-12, Guitar for the Non-Guitarist
Connecticut State University

July 29-Aug 2, Beginning Guitar Skills
West Chester University, PA 
 

May 4, 2013, 2:00pm
"ROUTE 66:  SONGS & STORIES"
Lutheran Home, Arlington Hts. IL 

MIchael's newest one-man show portrays the American wonder of Route 66--with literature, music, stories, politics, time travel, and popular culture.   All of this is brought to life on stage in front of spectacular rear screen projections.   A premier performance. 

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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2011 Performances</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><br /><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, Jan 7, 4:30pm&nbsp;<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #993300;">"INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION USING SKYPE"&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size: small; color: #993300;"><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://www.jazzednet.org" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">JazzEd Conference</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000;">,</span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Louisville, Kentucky</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Michael Miles (Music Director of Global Voices Initiative) and Daniel Gregerman (Choral Director, Niles North HS) present information about their work with international student exchanges. &nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #993300;"><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunday, January 29, 4:00pm</span></span><br /></strong>MICHAEL J. MILES IN CONCERT<br /></span></span></span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.firstpresbyterianchurchofdeefield.org" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First Presbyterian Church</span></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />824 Waukegan, Deerfield IL<br />847-858-0374</span></span></strong></p>
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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><strong><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday, March 31&nbsp;<br /></span></span></strong></strong><strong><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"GUITAR SKILLS WEEKEND"<br /></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.vandercook.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">VanderCook College of Music<br /></span></span></span></a></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3140 S. Federal, Chicago, Illinois</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: small;">Michael Miles will teach a guitar skills weekend for professional music educators. &nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><strong><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Friday, April 13, 7:30pm&nbsp;<br /></span></span></strong></strong><strong><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"FROM SENEGAL TO SEEGER<br />Stories of the American Banjo"<br /></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Robert Ferst Center for the Arts<br /></span></span></span></a></span></span></strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">349 Ferst Drive, Atlanta GA</span></span><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left; display: inline !important;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: small;">Michael Miles will perform his highly acclaimed one-man show.&nbsp;</span></p>
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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left;"><strong><strong><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Friday, July 13, 7:30pm&nbsp;<br /></span></span></strong></strong><strong><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"BEAUTIFUL DREAMER,<br />Music of LIncoln's America"<br /></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/memf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;">Madison Early Music Festival</span><br /></a><strong><strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></strong></strong></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p>
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<p class="FreeForm" style="text-align: left; display: inline !important;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: small;"><br />Michael Miles joins the Newberry Consort along with actor Paul Hecht to perform this show of music and literature from the mid-19th century. &nbsp;</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Venues Where Michael Has Performed</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ravinia Festival<br />Royal Opera Theatre of Marakesh<br />American Univeristy Beirut<br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Seamus Ennis Cultural Center, Dublin<br />Mayfield Fringe Festival, UK<br />American University in Beirut<br />Smithsonian Institution<br />Kennedy Center for the Arts<br />Harris Theatre, Chicago<br />Orchestra Hall, Chicago<br />Villanova University<br />Philadelphia Folk Festival<br />Winnipeg Folk Festival<br />WRTI, Crossover<br />WFMT, Folk Stage<br />Milwaukee Repertory Theatre<br />Puget Sound Guitar Workshop<br />Tennessee Banjo Institute<br />Old Town School of Folk Music<br />Art Institute of Chicago<br />Beni Mellal Theatre Morocco<br />Chicago Cultural Center</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://www.milesmusic.org/img/clear_300x300.gif" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></span></span></span></p>
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Select Past Venues

Ravinia Festival

Royal Opera Theatre of Marakesh

American Univeristy Beirut

Seamus Ennis Center, Dublin

Mayfield Fringe Festival, UK

WBEZ, Worldview

Smithsonian Institution

Kennedy Center for the Arts

Harris Theatre, Chicago

Orchestra Hall, Chicago

The Sage Gateshead, UK

Ulster American Folk Park, North. Ireland 

Villanova University

Philadelphia Folk Festival

Prairie Center for the Arts, IL 

Winnipeg Folk Festival

Ginger Rogers Theatre, OR

Pegasus Players Theatre

Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, Ireland 

WRTI, Crossover

WFMT, Folk Stage

Milwaukee Repertory Theatre

Puget Sound Guitar Workshop

Tennessee Banjo Institute

Old Town School of Folk Music

Art Institute of Chicago

Beni Mellal Theatre Morocco

Musical Instrument Museum, AZ 

The Bulls, Chicago

Champlain Valley Folk Festival, VT