Michael Brogan BMus (Hons) is a professional musician based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He began his studies at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, then London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and has since enjoyed a freelance career as a performer and educator.
Upon graduation, Mike was appointed Chairman and Principal Baritone of the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain, and led their tours of China, Holland, Thailand, and their appearance at the Prague Fringe Festival. Other events during this time included workshops across the UK for the Live Music Now scheme, producing Soprillogy (the world’s first soprillo saxophone album), and a performance with the London Saxophonic at Etnafest, Sicily.
As Assistant Director of the 16th World Saxophone Congress in St Andrews, Scotland, Mike curated more than 250 performances featuring musicians from over 50 countries. He has also performed several world premieres at WSCs in Thailand, Slovenia, and France.
Mike is a member of the Scottish Saxophone Ensemble and the Apollo Saxophone Orchestra, whose Perpetual Motion album featured new works by Barbara Thompson. He regularly plays with the Woo Hoo Band, Nick Bruce and his Blinding Lights, and The Soul Establishment. Notable performances include sell-out appearances at multiple Edinburgh Fringe and Jazz Festivals, at the Enterprise Music Scotland Chamber Music Festival, SOUND Festival, Prague Fringe Festival, RNCM Saxophone Days, and broadcasts for BBC1, ITV, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 3, and BBC Radio 6 Music.
Mike is saxophone tutor for Napier University and Edinburgh University, and enjoys a busy private teaching practice. He has previously taught at St Andrews University, St Mary's Music School and for West Lothian Council. As a Director of the Scottish Saxophone Academy he leads saxophone courses and events throughout the year, and further work with Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative has seen Mike visit schools across Scotland as a tutor on the award-winning Jazz Programme.
Mike is co-Director of Transgressive North, a music and film collective which has worked with artists including Jarvis Cocker, Four Tet, Son Lux, Irvine Welsh, Owen Pallett, Deerhoof, Sheila Stewart, and Alexander McCall Smith. Alongside the release of their multi award-winning films Blackbird (Scottish BAFTA nominated) and When the Song Dies, Transgressive North are proud to curate the annual Folk Film Gathering.
As a member of Marram, Transgressive North’s in-house band, Mike and his colleagues released their debut album Sun Choir to critical acclaim :
9/10 "Gorgeous, adventurous, and downright pleasurable" Exclaim!
8/10 "Brilliant - a real achievement" Clash
8/10 "Stellar guests...highly ambitious and original stuff" NME
7/10 "Modernistic, grand, complex, theatrical, colourful and symphonic" The 405
Photo credits: Sean Purser
