With a career that has taken him from the orchestras of the Stratford Festival and National Ballet of Canada, Michael has travelled east to west coasts. A percussionist and jazz vibist, he is equally comfortable on stage, in the orchestra pit, or the class room setting. In his tenure at Canada's Premier Theatre "The Stratford Festival" Stratford Ontario Canada, he worked with over 100 international composers in live music, on stage, as well as recorded studio sessions. His work with noted NYC Composer Stanley Silverman enabled him the opportunity to work with "James Taylor" in a compilation of works by Duke Ellington for Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens" 1993.
As a Jazz Vibist Michael has an impressive list of corporate clients and has performed at numerous music festivals and clubs in Ontario including the Heuther Hotel's "Jazz Room" in Waterloo with fellow Yamaha Artist Mike Downes and Terry Clark. His Vibraphone Master Classes have been well received at the University of Windsor, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Ottawa, Mac Master University and Western University. In addition to Michael's 32 years at Stratford, he has performed regularly in Toronto's Theatre Scene and Concert Stages including the Royal Alex, Hummingbird Centre, Elgin Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts, The Arts Centre in Ottawa, Hamilton Place, and Kitchener's Centre in the Square.
Michael has adjudicated extensively throughout Canada as well as presented workshops for the British Columbia Music Educators' Association (BCMEA) and Ontario Music Educators' Association (OMEA) as well as the Music Fest Nationals in Ottawa. Michael's academic credits include director of the University of Waterloo's Jazz Ensemble and percussion instructor (30 yrs).
Duology
Vibraphonist Michael Wood and pianist Jim Hodgkinson first performed together at the opening of "Twelfth Night" at the Stratford Festival in 2011 - and had an immediate musical rapport. A shared interest in Canadian jazz writers, including Dave Young, Phil Nimmons and Joe Sealy, along with American composers such as Wayne Shorter, Paul Chambers and Charlie Parker has since taken them from The Jazz Room in Waterloo to concert stages and university master classes. Michael and Jim continue to combine their two keyboard instruments in distinctive musical conversations, occasionally adding a bassist.
A strong advocate for volunteering, Michael is active with Teen Challenge Farm, Habitat for Humanity and is a board member of the Ontario Percussive Arts Society.
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