BIOGRAPHY
Micah started to play the Cornet at the age of six under the tuition of his dad. He progressed into the Young Peoples Band at Coventry City Salvation Army in which he became one of the bands Cornet soloists.
After a short break from playing, Micah made the move to Euphonium, an instrument which he began to thrive on. During this time he attended the Territorial Youth Band courses between 2009 – 2013 and Territorial Music School courses between 2010 and where he was able to showcase his early talents. Micah also for a short time was a member of the Coventry City Salvation Army Band progressing from 2nd Baritone to 2nd Euphonium within a few years.
He started his time as a pupil of Euphonium Virtuoso Steven Mead, who has taught Micah throughout his time at Coventry University. During this time Micah was awarded the highly converted EMI Music Sound Foundation Grant and The Sir Charles Barratt Memorial Award which went a long way in providing support for new projects, an instrument and lessons for Micah. During the period of March 2012 – July 2015, Micah had the privilege of playing a Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium and was given extensive support by Sterling Musical Instrument, during a guest soloist appearance in Germany in 2013, Micah had the privilege of performing on The Sterling Yorkshire Rose Euphonium. Micah enjoyed regular visits to the factory and enjoyed testing and trailing some of the latest prototype devices which included a Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium aimed at the market in America and testing heavy weight valve caps.
Micah has been fortunate to have played at a high class level with bands including The Household Troops Band, The Desford Band and more recently The Jaguar Land Rover Band, with his contest debut at the National Finals at The Royal Albert Hall in 2013, in 2015, Micah enjoyed a stint on Principal Baritone, winning The Senior Cup at The Grand Shield Contest with The Jaguar Land Rover Band.
Micah’s interests have extended to commissioning new works, with works from prominent composers within both the Salvation Army and Brass Band community. His current list of commissions includes:
Euphonium Solo: Dare To Be A Daniel - Ian Feltwell.
Euphonium Solo: Eminence - Martin Corder.
Euphonium Solo: In Gardens of Peace - Philip Harper.
Euphonium Solo: El Olam - Roger Trigg.
Euphonium Solo: A New Beginning - Dave Bishop Rowe.
Euphonium Solo: Euphonious - Sam Shelley.
Euphonium Solo: Reverie - Thomas Doss.
Euphonium Solo: Poor Wayfaring Stranger - Sam Shelley.
Euphonium Duet: Reflection - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Duet: Southport - Jonathan Mead.
Euphonium Duet: Cross of Jesus - Jonathan Mead.
Euphonium Solo: A Celtic Rhapsody - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Solo: Song of The Highway - Andrew Mackereth.
Duet for Violin and Euphonium: A Londonderry Jig - Jonathan Mead.
Euphonium Duet: Rolling Down The Old Maui - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Duet: Humuroesque for Euphoniums - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Duet: Mother Machree - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Duet: The Hills of Glen Orchy - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Duet: The Road To Lisdoonvana - Iain Rayner.
Euphonium Solo: 11 March 1917 - Bruce Broughton.
Euphonium Solo: Ride The Wave - Daniel Hall.
Euphonium Solo: Fallen High - Daniel Hall.
Euphonium Solo: Dancing Lights - Lucy Pankhurst.
Euphonium Solo: Invictus - Steven Ponsford.
Euphonium Solo: Concerto for Euphonium - Philip Harper.
Euphonium Solo: A Wedding Jig - Jonathan Mead.
Euphonium Solo: Their Hearts Failed Not - Karl Whelan.
Euphonium Solo: Hougoumont Lament - Peter Meechan.
Euphonium Solo: And All For Tomorrow - Paul Lovatt Cooper.
Euphonium Solo: Lochnagar - Jonathan Bates.
Euphonium Solo: ‘Abberline’ – Karl Whelan
Euphonium Solo: ‘A Song For Micah’ – Kenneth Downie
Euphonium Solo: ‘Mamayev Kurgan’ – Leigh Baker
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Current works in the pipeline for 2020 – 2021 include a new Euphonium Concerto from the pen of Philip Harper, a new piece based upon a traditional Irish theme from Ian Rayner and a new commission from the pen of Howard Evans.
Micah’s experience has extended outside the brass band world to include Orchestras and Wind Bands one of Micah’s musical highlights was performing alongside The Leamington Sinfornia performing Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’. More recently he has had the privilege to travel and work with a number of musical organisations including B3 Brass Band Buchlberg in Germany and Bedford Music Service both as a Euphonium tutor and soloist.
From 2012 - 2015 Micah studied at Coventry University under the tutelage of Steven Mead, Trevor Groom and David Taylor. At the end of 2015 Micah was awarded a First Class (Hons) Degree in Music and began work as a Supply Teacher working in various schools in the West Midlands joining The City of Coventry Brass Band on Solo Euphonium winning The Best Soloist in The Oxfordshire Brass Band Association Entertainment Contest in October 2016.
In September 2016, Micah accepted the position of Principal Euphonium with The Staffordshire Band. In October 2017 Micah accepted the position of Principal Euphonium with The Enderby Band under the leadership of Simon Gresswell and has enjoyed winning the and Wychavon 1st Section Entertainment Contest and a 2nd place at The Leicestershire Content. Throughout the 2018 - 2019 period, Micah continued to deputise with The GUS Band and relished the challenge of top flight banding.
In January 2018, Micah entered the world of conducting, being appointed Musical Director of The Brackley and District Band, during this time he implemented a successful concert series which concluded with a concert at the prestigious Stowe School with Professor Steven Mead.
In 2018, Micah made the first of two visits to France where he performed alongside Brass Band Amiens for The First World War Commemorations at Villers Bretonneux performing alongside Paul Goodchild, Principle Trumpet of The Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In September 2018, Micah made his second visit to Assevillers, France where he had the privilege of performing at the graveside of his Great Grandfather Henry Nichols before delivering a guest soloist appearance later that day.
To focus on working commitments, Micah returned as Principal Euphonium of The City of Coventry Brass from March 2018 to March 2019. In late October and early November 2019, Micah made his first visit to Vietnam with The Desford Colliery Band. In January 2020, Micah, accepted the position of Principal Euphonium with The Jaguar Land Rover Band. In February 2020, Micah made a return to his origins delivering a masterclass in music performance to the current music students in their first, second and third years of study. During lockdown, Micah had the opportunity to work with Stomvi on developing and adapting their MaxiClappers for the Euphonium.
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As an innovator Micah is currently working on developing a new mouthpiece with AR Resonance which currently has a working title of MDPS1. In March 2022, Micah was appointed as The Musical Director of The Royal Spa Brass Band and is looking forward to working with the band on a number of exciting and innovative projects in the weeks, months and years ahead. In June 2022, Micah had the opportunity to perform 'The Last Post' in the presence of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal. Micah has recently recorded a number of exciting new pieces of music written by Iain Livingstone to accompany the BBC TV Series 'The Repair Shop'.
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