Michael Jamieson was born in Taranaki, New Zealand, and started playing saxophone at age 14. He began studies in 2000 at Victoria University, Wellington (later the NZ School of Music), where he was a winner in the first annual Duo Competition.
After continuing with post-graduate studies at Massey University/NZSM (completing with first-class honours), he received a Massey University Cultural Award, a Creative NZ study grant and the Patricia Pratt Music Scholarship, enabling him to take the master course at the Messiaen Academie with Johan van der Linden, also taking lessons from Arno Bornkamp and Willem van Merwijk.
Michael undertook a semester of study in France at the Conservatoire National de Région de Strasbourg with Philippe Geiss, and participated in master classes and performances with Ellipsos Saxophone Quartet, Etienne Rolin, and Jean-Marie Londeix. He has participated in the Amsterdam International Saxophone Week and the Université Européene d’été pour le saxophone in Gap, France, as well as multiple World Saxophone Congresses.
While studying in the Netherlands, Michael was invited to perform with all the National Youth Wind Orchestras (Jonge NBE, Nederlands Jeugd Fanfare Orkest and Nederlands Jeugd Harmonie Orkest), and since completing his Master of Music in 2007, has been in demand as an orchestral player, working with orchestras including the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Radio Kamer Filharmonie, Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Michael has appeared with orchestras performing solo concert works by, among others, Glazunov, Debussy and Villa-Lobos, and in 2006 Michael was invited to perform as soloist with the Nederlands Bach Ensemble.
Michael has performed in numerous festivals, with a range of chamber ensembles (Hanumi Saxophone, The Four Baritones, Rata Trio etc.) including : the Grachtenfestival (Amsterdam), Asia-Pacific Festival (Wellington), Adam Chamber Music Festival (Nelson), Middelburg Chamber Music Festival (Netherlands), Roomnacht Festival (Netherlands), Grenswerk Festival (Netherlands), Brandenburg Summer Festival (Berlin) among many others.
Since returning to New Zealand in 2013, Michael has helped establish the NZ Saxophone Society and founded the NZ Classical Saxophone Festival/Summer School of which he is Artistic Director.
Michael is the saxophone teacher at the University of Auckland, and is the Principal Saxophonist of the Royal New Zealand Navy Band, as well as being Musical Director for the Auckland Youth Symphonic Band. He is a performing artist for Henri SELMER Paris Saxophones.
