Mike Holober

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. 

Awards

MacDowell Fellow (2003-2006; 2009; 2020) Ucross Foundation Fellow (2007; 2019) Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts (2019) Corporation of Yaddo Guest (2005)

Gear

Steinway Pianos (Steinway artist)

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