Meet Michael English | Violinist/Violist, Producer, Arranger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael English and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
For me, music and the arts have always been my preferred form of expression. When I was younger, playing my violin, singing in choir, performing in marching band, these things are what gave me a focus in life. I was highly interested in the strings after hearing my older sister play cello in elementary school. In fourth grade, I was given the option of trumpet, clarinet and violin. In the end, I chose the instrument that, for me, allowed for the greatest personal expression. Since then, after many years of being self-taught and then studying music in school,

I am now navigating the realm of music professionally and I couldn’t ask for anything more! As a youth I was using music to find myself, and now I use it to spread its power and presence to others. The reason I gravitate so much to classical or older styles of music is because of the length of pieces and the incorporation of live instrumentation. It says a lot to be able to take what one sees in one’s mind and project it into reality. In science or the arts, even in spirituality, we as beings are constantly giving something of ourselves to the broader populace. Music is the means of understanding that our lives, our selves are not just for ourselves, but for creating experiences in our own paths and the paths of others.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Please tell us more about your art.

My art. I have two deep passions in my life: Music and Mathematics. My journey with these two fields has been nothing short of amazing, especially through understanding the symbiotic nature of the two, I have broadened my horizons not just in music, but in life. The work I have done in music stems from just recognizing patterns, The reason I do so much with strings is because of the possibilities in what you can play. So many pitches, so many rhythms, timbres that can be expressed. It brought me to studying various patterns in bowing, scales, arpeggios, etc. on the violin. This is a standard for feeling the music in a different way as someone who plays these instruments as opposed to only listening to them. I had done research on various mathematical concepts that could be applied to music to compose, distinguish timbres, pinpoint harmonics, etc. It was viewing all that I learned on the right side of the brain, through left-side language of logic and numbers.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

I am most proud of growing myself and others through this music path that my life has taken, and the influence I have left on the youth through lessons or playing. Everyone experiences music in some way but it is a different experience to be able to play music with instruments, especially something like the violin or piano because they encompass so many pitches and broad ranges, the possibilities of expression are endless. I am happy and honored to be a conduit for this particular form of expression, and to give that knowledge back as it was given to me.

How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy?

I was self-taught on the violin, just me and my Essential Elements books. I didn’t have any formal lessons until I got to college. All the same, I improved over time because of the passion and enjoyment I had while playing. When I played in All-City Festivals, they were honestly and truly some of the best times of my life. It was fun to play with others who enjoyed making music how I liked to. The beauty of music and sound is that the means of interpretation is different for everyone. It was easy in that I enjoyed doing it so learning new things in terms of music, technique, style. It always has been fun, it never was a chore to play. I sometimes tell people I never would have thought at one point that something I do for fun would get me paid in the future. But isn’t that the goal in life? TO do what you love and let it carry you through life. It is about always getting better in one’s craft. As the experiences level up, so too must the skills that allow for those experiences to occur.

If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

The biggest lesson that was learned was to believe in myself. It seems weird to say, but you’d be surprised how many people do exceptional things but don’t always thoroughly succeed the way they want because they don’t believe they are worthy of it. I have been through much in my life, such is the way of being human but I feel, especially in these past couple years, that I am being more honest with myself, giving more credit to myself. I’m not perfect, but I am out here doing something for the greater world. That is all we can hope for as people, to reach as many people as possible in a positive way. My music and playing violin and viola have me helped with that through the many years.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

The Arketype Group is mostly music-oriented, presenting my services for violinist, violist, producer, arranger, studio work, movie talent (music) extra, you name it. It is the start of a journey of culmination of all I’ve learned and giving it to others in cohesive ways. Wanting to spin into a record-label, but that is all still in the works. I am planning to release an EP named Element by the end of the year. I play with Orchestra Noir, Atlanta’s African-American Orchestra headed by Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers and have been blessed to have had many musical experiences as a result of that. Very grateful for the many opportunities to travel and play weddings, award shows, private events, etc throughout the years of playing my instruments. Here’s to many more years to come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it was a week trip there’s a lot to do in that amount of time. I am somewhat of a nature boy so I know a lot of nature spots in the city, despite all these buildings and things there are still many older structures and lakes, creeks, forests in the city. SInce it’s my best friend (and all my closest friends are musicians) we would be out there grilling and making music, chilling in the natural world instead of being caught up in the social one. As much as I like to go out, I’m more of a small gathering type of guy. Get my close friends and some of their folks and it’ll be a good time. It’s super hot this summer and so going out in the shade is the best thing right now if you don’t wanna be stuck inside somewhere.

I’m a fan of the Symphony of course, so tickets to see Atlanta Symphony are a must. This season some of the world’s greatest violinists are coming into town and so that type of thing can’t be missed. There are a few jazz spots that I would recommend as well — Gallery 992, Elliot St. Pub, a few places on Edgewood– I just like going around music events mostly.

If you are visiting Atlanta, folks will want some chicken wings. But I work in fine dining and so I would be leaning more towards Breakers, Ruth Chris’s, The Palm, Atrium, more high-end places that provide one with the full experience of dining and not just going to eat food. The thing about taking your people around that energy is that it motivates.

Much of the time I am content with being in the studio or us chilling at home watching Netflix, I’m behind on a lot of shows trying to make things shake in real life.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Of course I would like to thank my parents, without whom I would not be where I am today, and my siblings for expressing themselves in full the way they see fit for their lives. Live life to the fullest.

I would like to give a big shoutout to my friends in music, FiyahReefa and Jeremy J. King for the many moments of life we have been through that have motivated my music, and for the music that we have made together, coalescing thoughts and experiences into our craft. Our music businesses often collaborate to create musical beauty.

I would definitely like to thank my mentor and performing partner, Dr. Roumena Georgieva. After many years of learning the instrument for myself, the journey of improving my technique and style to professional form and appreciation could not have been realized without her help and presence. We are preparing to go to Myrtle Beach to attend a music festival performing in an opera. Just having the opportunity to be around other musicians who are deeply involved and appreciative of the presence of music in their lives, it is a great gift of having great teaching.

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