Mike Hamnett plays marimba, vibraphone, percussion and piano, and works as an arranger and musical director. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, he has performed and recorded with the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
As a marimba soloist, he gave the world premiere of Paul Mitchell-Davidson’s concerto Africana, subsequently broadcast on ITV’s arts programme Celebration. His performances also include Paul Creston’s Concertino for Marimba at London’s Royal Festival Hall, and premieres of music by Basil Athanasiadis, Paul Edlin, Tom Armstrong and Graham Lynch.
His chamber-music work includes performances and recordings with the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, including the Decca album First and Foremost. He has also performed and arranged as a Latin pianist, working with artists such as vibraphonist Victor Mendoza.