Michael Taylor is an instructor with an extensive performance background. He is currently the principal tuba with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra (N.C.) and performs with Furman's Faculty Brass Quintet. He also performs with the Western Piedmont, Brevard and Asheville Symphony orchestras as a substitute.
Prior to obtaining those roles, Taylor performed with the Owensboro (Ky.), Richmond (Ind.), Bloomington Camerata (Ind.), and Columbus (Ind.) orchestras. He also played with Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band, Harvey Phillips Tuba Company, Harvey Phillips Tuba Santas, the Unifour Brass Ensemble, and the Smoky Mountain Brass Band. He has toured across the United States and performed on NPR as well as local radio and television broadcasts.
Along with his role at Furman, Taylor serves on the faculty at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he teaches low brass and coaches the tuba/euphonium ensemble.
Training
Harvey G. Phillips and Daniel T. Perantoni
Indiana University
Kenneth R. Kroesche
Oakland University (Mich.)
First and foremost, I want to produce musicians, not low brass players. Music is the highest artistic form of self-expression and my expectation for students is to be able to communicate these ideas and feelings without hesitation or self-doubt. I ask students what their goal is for a life in music and we set a course of diverse professional development tailored to that individual. The most important lesson I learned from my music mentor and the one idea I regularly try to instill in my students is a positive attitude.