Michael Michewicz

Michael Michewicz, saxophone player for Truth in Jazz Orchestra, likes the challenge of playing jazz music.

With Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in music education, conducting, and performance from Central Michigan University, he teaches instrumental music, both jazz and classical, to students ranging in age from sixth grade through college.

In addition to playing with TIJO, Mike is a free lance performer with a number of local bands, but focuses primarily on a Grand Rapids group called The Hip Pocket, an eleven piece funk band.

Mike’s musical ability has allowed him to share the stage with some of music’s big names including, among others, Jon Faddis, Wess Anderson, Buddy DeFranco, The Temptations, and The Four Tops.

“Jazz is usually full of opportunities for self-expression. It allows an exploration of ideas, but demands accurate presentation of the musical material. I really find a lot of meaning in this,” Mike says.

He also finds that music opens doors to establishing relationships. “For me,” he says, “performing music is akin to establishing a friendship with an audience. This is easy on a one-to-one basis, of course, but with music it becomes possible on a large scale that is quite profound.”