Michael began playing alto saxophone at age 12, switching to tenor during his senior year of high school. While still a student at Citrus College in Glendora, CA, in 1999, he was a featured soloist with Carnival Cruise Line's Atlantis Lounge Orchestra. That summer he recorded and performed with the Inland Empire Orchestra on the rock 'n' roll/hip-hop Vans Warped Tour, performing all over the US and Canada for six weeks. Michael also toured Japan and Hawaii with the Citrus College "Blue Note" Orchestra, whose 2000 CD Tribute to Duke Ellington received an award from Down Beat Magazine.

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In June 2000, Michael received an Associate of Arts in Music degree, with special emphasis in Jazz Performance, from Citrus College. Since coming to Berkley in 2001, Michael has been the recipient of numerous scholarships, and in January 2003, he released his own CD, Home At Last.