Michael Cooke is a composer and performer who plays flute, bass clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, and bassoon. This Louis Armstrong Jazz award winner graduated from the University of North Texas, which he attended while on a competitive bassoon performance scholarship. Michael graduated cum laude with many different areas of study; jazz, ethnomusicology, music history, theory and of course composition. In 1991 Michael began his professional orchestral career performing in many north Texas area symphonies. He also has performed in jazz and free improvising ensembles. Michael has toured Europe, Mexico, and across the United States with various groups. Cimarron Music Press began published many of Michael’s compositions in 1994. In 1999, Michael started a jazz label called BLACK HAT RECORDS (blackhatrecords.com) and is currently on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra. Michael has just completed his fourth CD, "an indefinite suspension of the possible." His other CDs have received international airplay and he has won two Sports Emmys for his work on "NASCAR on Fox".

(Contribution by Michael Cooke <cooke@sfcco.org>)