Michael Sanchez was born in Miami, Florida, where he began his musical journey under Mr. Ed Maina in 2002. Throughout his time in secondary school he participated in several honor bands, musical festivals in Florida, and played as far as Tennessee. Michael was a member of the Florida All-State band, the University of Miami honor band All-County honor band, Tri-State, and Miami-Dade honor band. After graduating high school Michael went on to study music education at Florida International University; it was here that he studied clarinet under Mr. Paul Green, and Mr. Richard Hancock, and played under the baton of Dr. Catherine Rand, and Mr. Grzegorz Nowak. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he went on to the University of Southern Mississippi to complete master’s degrees in both clarinet performance under Dr. Jackie McIlwain and instrumental conducting under Dr. Catherine Rand.

 As a performer in college Michael has had the opportunity to play in several festivals, and honor bands around the country. Michael was principal clarinetist in the Florida International University symphonic orchestra, and principal bass clarinetist in the wind ensemble. During his undergraduate years he got to perform and premiere new compositions by composers such as Mr. Federico Bonacossa, Ms. Catalina Von Wrangell and Mr. Gilbert Kong. Michael has been the featured artist at the Kendall New Music Art Festival, and won the principal clarinet job for the Ars Nova Symphony Orchestra, a mentoring orchestra for young musicians. He was also principal bass clarinetist for the Florida Intercollegiate band, and principal bass clarinetist for the National Intercollegiate band. In his years in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he has played in the Meridian Symphony, the Festival South Orchestra, the Main Street Baptist Symphony Orchestra, and the Temple Baptist Orchestra. Michael has also traveled around Mississippi playing at festivals with his graduate clarinet quartet.

Outside of performing Michael also taught throughout Miami-Dade County giving private instruction, as well as running sectionals during marching season. In his final semester of undergraduate work Michael was a student teacher at Coral Reef Senior High, and Stirrup Elementary. At the high school he taught ninth through twelfth grade, including after school sectionals and rehearsals, and conducted the concert band for their regional evaluation. In the elementary school he taught second through fifth grade and organized a small recorder ensemble to perform for the school. During his time in Mississippi he was invited to be the clarinet and marching tech at Jones County Junior College, in Laurel, Mississippi, and Foley High School, in Foley, Alabama. In his last three years at Southern Mississippi Michael was on the graduate staff where he was involved with the marching band and pep band. Some of his duties were to help teach drill, oversee sectionals, teach marching fundamentals, and on occasion lead the pep band at basketball games.