Michael is regarded as a doyen of British horn playing.
He studied at the Royal Academy with Ifor James, and was appointed Principal Horn of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the age of eighteen. Within three years he was offered the Principal Horn positions of both the Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestras. He joined the Philharmonia and stayed for ten years before leaving to pursue his solo career. He has performed worldwide and has recorded the major solo horn repertoire.
Michael has been at the forefront of contemporary music as a member of the London Sinfonietta, and he is now their Principal Horn Emeritus.
As a studio musician he has played on numerous soundtracks, including; Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Bond films. His horn quartet premiered Sir Paul McCartney's Stately Horn at the Albert Hall and subsequently the Carnegie Hall.
Michael has given masterclasses in Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, Korea, Australia and the USA. He plays on instruments made by Paxman of London.