Michael Bliss (21) currently lives in New York City, and recently graduated with honors from New York University. He is originally from Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, where he began playing the alto saxophone at the age of 7. Displaying an early aptitude for playing by ear, he was soon accepted into his elementary school jazz band. From this point on, he became immersed in music, studying privately and performing in a variety of different settings. In high school, he was a member of the Massachusetts district and all-state jazz bands, through which he was given the opportunity to play at Boston, Massachusetts’ Symphony Hall, as well as the world famous Newport Jazz Festival. He also studied at New England Conservatory’s Preparatory program in Boston. 

    He began his undergraduate studies at NYU in 2013, and was lucky enough to study with world class musicians such as Chris Potter, Joe Lovano, John Scofield, Dave Pietro, Mark Turner, Mike Rodriguez, Alan Ferber, and Lenny White. While enrolled, he performed with various NYU ensembles at The Blue Note Jazz Club and Shapeshifter Lab, as well as recording at NYU’s Dolan Studio and for WBGO public radio.

    In 2014, he joined the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band as lead alto, a band that he was invited back to for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons. With this well known ensemble, he has been able to perform with artists such as Luis Bonilla, Lew Tabackin, Robin Eubanks, John Faddis, Jim McNeely, Sean Jones, and Victor Goines at Dizzy’s Jazz Club and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Appel Room. He went on tour with the band to Sao Paulo, Brazil in March of 2016, performing at the well known Ibirapuera Auditorium and Bourbon Street Music Club. He was also given the opportunity to join the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra at the United Palace as well as Carnegie Hall to perform George Gershwin’s “American in Paris.”

    In the summer of 2016, he went on tour to San Jose, Costa Rica with his own quintet, performing and participating in masterclasses

    He continues to push his limits as an instrumentalist, studying flute, alto flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, and bass clarinet. He has been a part of multiple NYU Musical productions in the pit orchestra, as well as performing at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater for a Shakespeare In The Park production.