Michael is a violinist and music education entrepreneur. In 2019 as well as his many performances he headed a music project in Iraq with the Yazidi people and through Water City Music headed a children’s music festival at the Tower of London. He is committed to music diversity in all its forms.

Since the early 1970s, Michael has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music through performances, media and education. In recognition of his services to music, he was awarded an MBE in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday honours list.

He made his first broadcasts for the BBC at the age of 19 and numerous recordings thereafter. Aged 18, he was a prize winner in the Carl Flesch (London) and Jacques Thibaud (Paris) international violin competitions. The Bochmann String Quartet, which he formed soon after this, was in the spotlights for 25 years.

Michael’s many associations with Yehudi Menuhin began with a BBC2 masterclass broadcast. They later performed the Bach Double Concerto together including during a tour of 16 concerts in the US.

For a short time Michael played with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and later led the English String Orchestra for 25 years. He now directs Orchestra Pro Anima.

He has always had a strong interest in education and inspiring young people, regularly involving them in his concerts. In 2009 he formed Water City Music in partnership with Lord Mawson of Bromley-By-Bow. In its first year it put on 15 events in East London. Forming the Water City Orchestra he was part of the BBC1 series following 15 lives to the 2012 Olympics. In 2013 he worked in partnership with the Tower of London to create “Water City Music at the Tower”. By 2019 it had gained such momentum that 1800 children performed at the Tower in a single week. In the same year, WCM initiated the musical wing of the “Tall Ships Adventure Festival” at the Gloucester Docks, in partnership with Gloucester Marketing and Gloucester Academy of Music.

Alongside these events is the development of “Oasis Concerts” in Southwark and Greenwich.