BIOGRAPHY
"Lead trumpet players are rare birds; they must possess a faultless technique, a four-octave range, and be able to read anything perfectly at sight across the widest possible range of styles. Michael Lovatt has all of these capabilities allied to a glowing, golden tone and the ability and authority to inspire not only a whole brass section but an entire orchestra. He is also and good and kind man, qualities which shine through his joyous playing."
John Wilson - The John Wilson Orchestra
OVERVIEW
Mike Lovatt is a UK virtuoso trumpeter, recording artist, sought after teacher and musical director who is internationally recognized for his wide ranging stylistic ability. He is Principal Trumpet of the Grammy nominated John Wilson Orchestra, the BBC Big Band, Superbrass, Andrew Cottee’s Dreamtown Orchestra and is featured as soloist on many film scores including most recently Marvel's ‘Avengers Endgame’ and the Judy Garland Bio Pic 'Judy’.
EDUCATOR
Mike is Professor of Trumpet at The Royal Academy of Music and was proud to be awarded the prestigious position of The Derek Watkins' Chair of Trumpet which he has held since 2013. He is also Professor at The Royal College of Music, Associate Artist at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and visiting Professor at the Royal Welsh and the Birmingham Conservatoires. Reaching out to young players through master classes and directing brass projects forms an essential part of Mike’s working life.
Influenced by the great Kenny Baker and Uan Rasey amongst others, Mike’s career encompasses many musical styles. He was awarded the Jon Kelly Jazz Scholarship whilst studying and in his early career established himself as a principal trumpet in London’s West End performing in countless shows. Most recently he played lead trumpet in the celebrated production of 42nd Street which was filmed for global streaming and British cinemas.
COLLABORATIONS
Some deserve special mention. In 2019 Mike was privileged to work with at the Edinburgh International Festival under Sir John Elliot Gardner performing West Side Story. Mike regularly works with the multi-talented Seth MacFarlane in the recording studio and in concert with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Washington DC and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Most memorably Mike worked alongside the late Jessye Norman performing the Sacred Music of Duke Ellington along with colleagues Mark Markham, Ron Carter and Grady Tate. Mike also appeared as part of a duo with Ms Norman at the Tate gallery in London, and toured with her extensively to Carnegie Hall, throughout Europe and the Montreux Jazz Festival where the legend Quincy Jones commented “great chops Mike.”
In 2018 Mike recorded his first solo album with the 2018 British Champions, Foden's Band. The album entitled '56 Degrees North' was awarded British bandsmen solo CD of the year. and has recently been nominated for Brass Band World solo CD of 2019.
AS A SOLOIST
Mike has appeared with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra Brass Ensemble, the Espoo Big Band Helsinki and The London Symphony Orchestra with Eddie Daniels. As a Musical Director recent work includes the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra's brass section recording of Billy Mays Big Fat Brass.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Mike’s recording career include the James Bond films Tomorrow Never Dies and Die Another Day, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with The London Symphony Orchestra, the award winning Chicago, Kevin Spacey’s Beyond the Sea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Madagascar, and The Corpse Bride,
He is featured on trumpet and cornet in George Fenton’s Mrs Henderson Presents, and on trumpet in ‘Looking for Eric.’ TV work includes Carl Davis’s score for the TV Drama series ‘Upstairs Downstairs’, and Charlie Moles's music for the hit ITV series 'Mr Selfridge'. Mike has recently recorded the soundtracks to the bio pic 'Judy' the dance band sequences in 'Downton Abbey' and was the featured trumpet soloist for the Marvel film 'Avengers Endgame.' More recent highlights include playing lead trumpet for Patricia Ward Kelly's Gene Kelly The Legacy show around the world, and playing Principal trumpet with David Arnold and Michael Giacchino with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall
RECENT ARTIST RECORDINGS & PERFORMANCES
Quincy Jones, Robbie Williams, Eric Clapton, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Buble, Oasis, Michel Le Grand, Tony Bennett, Toots Thielmans, Marty Paich, Johnny Mathis, The Michael Nyman Band, Michael Ball, Shirley Bassey, Michael Crawford, Danny Elfman, Joby Talbot, The BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras, London Brass, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Philarmonia Orchestra, Espoo Big Band Helsinki, London Symphony Orchestra, San Fransisco Symphony, Pacific Symphony, National Symphony USA
