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Michael Miles in Concert
- Chris Spector, Midwest Record Michael J. Miles is an electrifying concert performer whose live performances have been warmly greeted from his hometown of Chicago to the Kennedy Center in Washington and the Royal Opera Theatre in Marrakesh. As a soloist, with an ensemble, with a string quartet or a full orchestra -- the signature is always distinctive as Michael coaxes beautiful and unexpected sounds from the banjo, guitar and a variety of unusual instruments.
Miles has carved a musical world of his own -- mixing the ancient worlds of traditional and classical music with a blues-tinged catalog of original compositions. Mix in Tin Pan Alley, jazz guitar, fingerstyle artistry, and a warm baritone voice and you have Michael Miles in Concert! “Give the banjo to Michael J. Miles and you’ll hear a mighty soul-stirring sound.”
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Miles performs his composition, "Chicago Trilogy." "Tin Pan Alley Times" with rear screen imagery. Ensemble performs Miles', "Melodious Pich" Jack of Diamonds with audience participation. |
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.
