Michael Wooldridge

About Michael

As heard playing live to 5 million people on BBC Radio 2's 'Steve Wright in the Afternoon'!

Michael is a master musician, skilled with the theatre, electronic and classical organ, piano and keyboard.  He loves all kinds of music, so whether you are planning a Concert, Wedding, Dance, Cocktail Party, Show or, in fact, any event where you need the very finest music possible, he is the person you need to call.

Michael was often heard on BBC Radio 2's long running programme, The Organist Entertains, and amongst many varied and interesting jobs, has played the Theatre Organ for the then HRH Prince Charles at the Odeon, Leicester Square, whilst deputising for Resident Organist Donald MacKenzie, and appeared as organ and piano soloist with the legendary Mantovani Orchestra.

Since winning the prestigious ATOS UK Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition in 1980, Michael has remained a firm favourite in concert at electronic and theatre organ societies and, besides extensively touring the UK, has performed in Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Ireland, Dubai and Australia.  With a very extensive repertoire in many, many styles, his concert programmes are packed with popular music in all styles, orchestral, big band, shows, theatre organ, classical, rock and roll and much more, including many very well known pieces perhaps not often heard at organ concerts but always very much enjoyed.

Michael is a fully fledged show producer, having staged countless touring shows, summer seasons and pantos throughout the UK.  He feels extrememly privileged to have worked with many of the stars he grew up admiring on television, including Supersonic Syd Little, Crackerjack and Good Morning Sunday's Don Maclean, stars of the Black and White Minstrel Show, top piano entertainer Bobby Crush, master magician Paul Daniels and, from Ireland, the hilarious Jimmy Cricket and Eurovision Song Contest winner, Dana.

He has always loved musical theatre so very much enjoys working in the orchestra pit, where he has played for a huge number of shows, including such favourites as Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Carousel and Fiddler On The Roof.  More unusual shows have included Cy Coleman's fabulous show, The Will Rogers' Follies: A Life In Review, As Happy As A Sandbag and in rehearsal, the 40th Aniversary production of Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice's very first show, The Likes Of Us.  He's even worked with some tribute bands, first the top Madness Tribute, the Los Palmas 6, and then some theatre dates playing with The Fabulous Shadows, featuring with the UK's number one tribute artist, as voted by the Agents Association of Great Britain, Jimmy Jemain as Sir Cliff Richard.

Whilst he has a range of different organs, digital pianos and keyboards, Michael mostly tours with a Roland organ, which gives him a wide range of sounds to suit all styles of music.

He is now thrilled to pass on his knowledge and experience through his private teaching practice, giving pupils lessons in their own homes on their own organs, pianos and keyboards, and with students from further afield visiting his home for tuition.  He is Principal Tutor at the Rye Wurlitzer Academy and spent three years as electronic organ tutor for the University of Sussex.  Outside of normal lessons, he also makes one off visits to people to assist with how to get more from their own instruments.

Alongside his performances and teaching, along with his wife Carole, Michael now runs Cavalcade Productions, publishing and editing the popular 'Keyboard Cavalcade' magazine, continuing its long tradition of supporting the keyboard, organ and digital piano world in the UK, plus bringing in new features to add extra interest, and, of course, running the associated hobby holidays, the largest in the UK and with more top players appearing each day than at any other UK events. 

To view a past issue of Keyboard Cavalcade, see about keyboard holidays and to subscribe, visit www.CavalcadeProductions.co.uk (opens in a new tab)  They also took on running the OrganFax Website when its future was uncertain, as, like with the Keyboard Cavalcade magazine and events, they felt it so important to keep it running for the well-being of our world of music.

With another hat on completely, Michael is also Editor of 'Piers', the quarterly journal of the National Piers Society, who do so much to help support the growth and regeneration of our seaside communities.  For more information visit https://piers.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Michael's Photo Gallery

Michael's Concert Diary