Mike Troy began playing the saxophone at the age of 9. He began formal classical and jazz study under William Eicher and Dave Schiavone respectively. During this time, Mike began extensive ear training and jazz language development through many hours of focused listening and transcribing practices.

Mike then attended SUNY Purchase College on scholarship (James Moody), where he studied with many notable jazz musicians, including Eric Alexander, Gary Smulyan, Ralph Lalama, Steve Wilson, and Jon Gordon. He graduated in 2015, while earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts — Music Performance, Jazz Studies.

Since 2012, Mike has been performing internationally, as well as frequently in New York City where he has been based since then. Mike has performed at some of the finest venues and festivals there are, including the opening performance at the prestigious 48th annual Moers Jazz Festival in Germany, Smalls Jazz Club over 150 times, Ornithology Jazz Club, The Jazz Standard, The SF Black Cat, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Fat Cat, Birdland Jazz Club, and many others. He has performed alongside some of the greatest voices in jazz today, including Roy Hargrove, Obed Calvaire, Russell Hall, Grammy award winning Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, ELEW, Immanuel Wilkins, Frank Lacy, Jonathan Barber, Peter Washington, and many others.

Mike has been an active educator for the past 12 years. He has taught Jazz Improvisation and Repertoire classes as a substitute adjunct Professor at SUNY Purchase College, as well as afterschool music programs of all ages, and private music lessons. Mike’s proficiency as a multi-instrumentalist has allowed him to teach a variety of musical instruments over the years, including saxophone(s), flute and clarinet, drums, guitar, trumpet/flugelhorn, and piano.