Biography
“This show is about the music and Musical Director, Michael Riley,
and his orchestra, delivered with energy and enthusiasm.”
Michael Riley is a musical director and conductor from London. His work within musical theatre has spanned a decade, most recently working as musical director for the 2022 production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock.
Michael studied classical piano at Trinity College of Music, receiving a first-class BMus (Hons) degree. At Master's level he studied orchestral conducting with Martyn Brabbins at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
In recent years, Michael has conducted London, regional, touring & international productions of musicals including:
The Bodyguard, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, An Officer and a Gentleman, Nativity! The Musical, Legally Blonde, The Wild Party, The Sound of Music, Kiss Me, Kate, The Last Five Years and additionally played on shows including Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar and Hairspray.
In addition to his work in theatre, Michael is a qualified vocal coach and is proud to teach regularly at theatre schools including The Urdang Academy, London School of Musical Theatre, Mountview, Arts Educational, Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and regional schools including Guildford School of Acting, Rose Bruford and The Emil Dale Academy.
For details about current projects, click here to visit the NEWS page.
Press
“Explosive big numbers and much bling - live music tightly controlled by Michael Riley.”
— British Theatre Guide, 2019.
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“Orchestrations of interest and intelligence played impeccably by the nine-piece band under Michael Riley, is one of the great highlights of the show.”
— What’s On Stage, 2018.
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“Under the musical direction of Michael Riley, his band joined in giving the West End a fresh taste of renown musical theatre songs with a joyous pop twist”.
— Gay Times, 2015.
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“Michael Riley and his orchestra did wonders in supplying such a big and full sound for the varied score of power ballads and up-tempo dance numbers…complemented all aspects of the production - especially Riley’s perfect incidental music.”
— Belfast Times 2019
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