Bio/Resume Download
Described by Downbeat Magazine as “one of the finest modern composer/arrangers of our time” Mike Holober was awarded the 2022 American Academy of Arts and Letters Andrew Imbrie Award in Music. His recent big band recording, "Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra: Hiding Out" (ZOHO Music, 2019) was nominated for a 2020 GRAMMY® Award (Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album), and features two of his extended works for jazz orchestra.
Trained as a classical pianist and conductor, Mike began his apprenticeship as a jazz pianist and composer after moving to New York City in 1986. He has released six recordings as a leader, and can be heard on over 70 recordings as a sideman. His projects include The Mike Holober Quintet, Balancing Act (a jazz octet with voice), The Gotham Jazz Orchestra, and most recently The Marvin Stamm/Mike Holober Quartet.
Mike has served at the helm of some of the worlds most renowned large ensembles as director, conductor, composer, and arranger. From 2007-2013 he was Artistic Director/Conductor of the Westchester Jazz Orchestra (WJO), and he served as guest Conductor/Arranger of the WDR Big Band (WestDeutsche Rundfunk - German National Radio Big Band, Cologne, Germany) in 2009, and 2014-2016. From 2011-2015 he was Associate Guest Conductor of the hr-Big Band (Hessischer Rundfunk - Frankfurt, Germany).
Mike is a full Professor at The City College of New York, where he has been teaching since 1995. He also teaches composing and arranging at The Manhattan School of Music. From 2007 - 2015 he was Associate Director of the BMI Jazz Composer’s Workshop, where he taught with Director Jim McNeely.
“Internationally renowned composer and bandleader Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra nominated for 2020 GRAMMY® Award in the Best Large Jazz Ensemble recording category”