Mike Hall

Mike Hall is a Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), where he has taught since 1994. He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering and a PGdip from RNCM. As a jazz educator and performer, he specializes in saxophone tuition, big band direction, and improvisation pedagogy. He directed the RNCM Big Band for 20 years, collaborating with renowned artists like Bob Mintzer, Chris Potter, and John Dankworth.

• Research: Commissioned by Manchester Jazz Festival to create a fusion of 16th-century music and contemporary jazz (Felonious Monks project), supported by an RNCM Research Grant.
• Teaching: Awarded a Teaching Fellowship (2013) for developing a web-based jazz improvisation learning system.

Performance highlights include leading his own octet Boplicity, composing for ensembles like Crystal, and performing with groups such as the Echoes of Ellington Orchestra and Andy Scott’s Sax Assault. He has also released CDs like Over the Moon and contributed to recordings with the Felonious Monks ensemble.

Awards include RNCM Research and Teaching Fellowships, and recognition for his innovative compositions and educational initiatives.