Michael was born in Sydney in 1980. He was introduced to music by his grandfather, Ralph Hutton, the church organist in Bega, at a very young age. Through primary and high school he continued his interest in music, picking up several instruments including trumpet, saxophone and clarinet. In 1996 while in high school, Michael won first prize in the Australian Society for Music Education ACT Chapter Young Composer’s Competition, with a symphonic work titled Loki. The prize was a trip to Brisbane to attend the ASME conference, including a performance of the work by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, alongside the works by winners from the other states. Michael’s success in the competition led him to continue composing, and now it is his primary musical focus. In 2000, he won the 3MBS 25th Anniversary Composer’s Competition with his work To The Summit. The State Orchestra of Victoria performed the work at the Melbourne Concert Hall, and it has since been performed again by the SOV, and the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras. Michael attained his Batchelor or Engineering/Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Melbourne in 2003, whilst continuing to compose in his spare time. He has written incidental music for several college plays, and a work for the Engineering Music Society Orchestra at the University entitled Vortices. Michael’s favourite composers are Gustav Holst (whose most famous work is The Planets), John Williams (of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter fame) and Danny Elfman (Batman, Edward Scissorhands and Men in Black). Film composition is a medium Michael aims to explore in future. In his spare time, Michael enjoys badminton, Japanese cookery and going to the movies. You’re History marks Michael’s first collaboration with Tim Bain.