Born in Brighton, Sussex, in May 1965, he was taken to see many musicals from a fairly young age. His formal music training began with a few piano lessons when he was eleven years old but he very quickly realised that the organ was the instrument for him. He was fortunate to study both electronic and theatre organ techniques with the famous cinema organist, Bobby Pagan, who also taught him about orchestral arrangements and conducting.

In 1980, playing the Wurlitzer organ at the Granada Cinema, Kingston Upon Thames, Michael won the Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition, organised by the London and South of England Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. In 1984, he was honoured to receive the coveted Ian Sutherland Memorial Award from the Cinema Organ Society of Great Britain.

Since giving his first solo concert in 1980, he has become one of the country’s very top theatre and electronic organists, a regular favourite at organ clubs and societies throughout the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. He has made many trips to Continental Europe to play concerts in Holland and Germany and, in 1992, was thrilled to travel to the Gold Coast of Australia to star in a series of concerts organised by the Theatre Organ Society of Australia for their annual convention.

In the spring of 1987, Michael joined Yamaha-Kemble Music to demonstrate the superb H series of Electone organs. He was so successful with them that, at the start of 1988, he became Area Manager for the South of England with responsibility for sales in the region, dealer and customer liaison, and overseeing the ever-popular Yamaha Music Schools. Eighteen months later he decided to return to work as a freelance professional musician but he has retained links with Yamaha and, more often than not, will be seen playing their equipment. That said, he has always had the ability to hop on and off different makes of organ and, being familiar with most makes and models, is pleased to take the opportunity to play different instruments when offered. Since 1998 he has made occasional guest appearances as a celebrity concert artiste for Hammond and Wersi organs.

On the piano Michael has played for various events and functions at a great diversity of venues. These have included private residencies, the Butlins Holiday Centre at Bognor Regis and the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London’s West End. He has learned to play the drums and has had some voice training.

Michael has always listened to lots of swing music and now occasionally plays piano in a full eighteen piece big band. He also enjoys performing in smaller jazz groups on organ or piano.

In recent years, Michael has become far more involved with the classical organ and when he is available, will often be found in church playing for Sunday services and, of course, for weddings and funerals. This work brings him into contact with soloists and choirs where he finds that the need to sight read music, whilst maintaining an even meter, is a good discipline for his playing and is beneficial to all of his other work.

Similar discipline is required when accompanying musicals, an aspect of his career that Michael finds most enjoyable. To read more about this work and to see the many performers he has worked with and shows he has worked on, visit the ‘Musical Theatre’ page.

Playing for dancing is another area where Michael is heavily involved, especially with his regular Tuesday afternoon Tea Dances and Saturday evening Ballroom Dances at Worthing’s Pavilion Theatre and Assembly hall. This work brings him into close contact with many top big bands including Ray McVay and his Orchestra, the Joe Loss Orchestra (now led by singer Todd Miller), and the great Ken Macintosh and his Orchestra.

Michael gives private music lessons to pupils of all abilities on the organ and the keyboard. These can be on a regular basis or as one off, perhaps just to help players to familiarise themselves with their particular model organ or to solve a particular problem.

Well respected throughout the organ world, Michael has adjudicated at both the National Electronic Organ Competition and the Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition.

In the media, Michael can often be heard on the popular BBC Radio 2 programme, ‘The Organist Entertains’, and he has also been featured on television, both playing and demonstrating the magnificent Compton organ at The Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth. Over the years he has made many contributions to, and had regular columns in various magazines including Keyboard Player, Organ and Keyboard World and Organ and Keyboard Cavalcade.

Contact : phone 01903 263454

Michael also has a web page at Organ Fax and more information about him can be found here: www.michaelwooldridge.co.uk