Mike Hamnett – percussion / offernynwr taro

A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Mike has found success in many different musical spheres. As a percussionist, Mike has played with the Halle Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras, both in the concert hall and the recording studio, premiering works by such diverse composers as Tan Dun, Gordon McPherson, Nicholas Maw and Bill Connor.

As a soloist Mike has performed recitals across the country, including the world premiere of Paul Mitchell-Davidson’s marimba concerto “Africana” which was subsequently broadcast on ITV’s critically acclaimed arts programme “Celebration”. Other notable performances include Paul Creston’s Concertino for Marimba at the Royal Festival Hall, London, and the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. In August 2004, Mike performed as part of the Belgian International Marimba Competition and Festival.

As a chamber musician, Mike has performed and recorded extensively with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet including the Decca album “First and Foremost”, but more recently has been working in collaboration with the award-winning saxophonist Sarah Field. The duo, known as SNAPDRAGON, made their packed London debut in July 2005 and has since performed across the globe, from Aberystwyth to Zimbabwe and has recently premiered “Firebird” by Paul Max Edlin at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

In the field of jazz and world music Mike has appeared with notable artists including the Mexican vibraphone virtuoso Victor Mendoza, the Danish conga player Birgir Sulsbruck and the renowned British drummer and percussionist Dave Hassell, in many cases acting also as arranger and musical director and has recently been invited to take up the piano position in Dave Hassell’s internationally acclaimed latin-jazz group “Apitos”.

Currently Mike is the African percussion specialist for Walt Disney’s hugely successful production of “The Lion King” in London which he has also conducted on numerous occasions and has recently been invited for a trial as the Co-Principal Percussionist with the BBC Concert Orchestra. All of this runs alongside his work as the director of the big band and percussion and drum kit studies at Canterbury Christ Church University. Mike can be contacted through his website www.mikehamnett.com