Composer and musician Michael Cotten has been a student of music from a very young age. He began with piano when he was ten, added trumpet at twelve, and classical guitar at fifteen. His interest in composing began around the same time, and he would sometimes write his own songs for the instruments that he played.
In his undergraduate career at the University of Kentucky, he helped arrange marching band tunes during his freshman, sophomore and junior year, and as a senior he has continued to do so on his own. He has also arranged two marching band shows for Western Illinois University, one of which was performed in Chicago’s 2015 McDonald’s Thanksgiving’s Day Parade. Michael’s other complete, original compositions include pieces for solo piano, young band, and trumpet. He cites some of his main influences as Tchaikovsky and Philip Glass.
Michael is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. In the future, he hopes to attend Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) to complete a Master’s degree in composition. His ultimate goal is to inspire young musicians, to preserve and advocate for the art form, and continue to advance it into the future.
Releases from Michael:
“With Sword and Crown” – The University of Kentucky Trombone Octet
