ABOUT
MICHAEL

    A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Michael W. Cotten (b. 1994) is a composer, arranger, and freelance music educator who balances concert music, the marching arts, electronic production, and the never-ending attempt to understand why we are alive. He is strongly influenced by the color, melody, and drama of composers such as Tchaikovsky and Ravel. He firmly believes no matter what, music should tell a story.

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    Michael’s concert and marching works have been performed at multiple state, national, and international conferences such as the International Trumpet Guild Conference, International Women’s Brass Conference, and multiple Music Education Association conferences. His marching arrangements having helped bands win multiple state championships including a BOA Grand Nationals Class A Reserve Grand Champion. Beyond the classical idiom, Michael has studied under artists such as Ben Levin and producer Underbelly to create things like background music for YouTubers, a lo-fi LP, and an arrangement for Ouiwey Collins, son of bassist Bootsy Collins. Choosing one musical lane has never been much of a priority.

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    Michael currently lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he spends much of his time writing music alongside his wife, Taylor, and their three blue heelers: Max, Indium, and Cage. All of which have shown no meaningful interest in orchestration or his trumpet playing, despite Michael’s best attempts. When not composing, he enjoys cooking, fishing, audiobooks, the occasional round of disc golf, video games when time permits, and walking along Lake Charles at sunset while pondering questions such as the meaning of life, the nature of human existence and mortality, as well as what he is going to make for dinner. He is considerably more fun than this sentence makes him sound. He hopes.