Trumpeter, composer and educator, Mitch Cuss graduated from Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland with an Honours degree in jazz performance and composition. He is a former contributor to Ireland's famous 'New Music Big Band' under the direction of composer, trombonist and educator Paul Frost. Mitch studied 'Composition' under Dr. Eric Sweeney & Dr. Marian Ingoldsby and 'Arranging' & 'Orchestration' under Dr. David Rhodes, 'Jazz Theory & Arranging' and 'Improvisational Skills' under Phill Collins, and 'History', 'Analysis' & 'Pedagogy' under Dr. Hazel Farrell and was nominated for WIT’s prestigious Bridget Doolan award for performance and his contribution to the course.
Mitch currently resides near Waterford, Ireland with his Wife, Donna, who is a Soprano www.drochesoprano.com , but he often travels for work to the UK and Europe. He is a former member of Irish band, Brass & Co. and plays with Soul Reazon, Opus Pocus Big Band, Savoy Swing Orchestra, his own quintet and smaller ensembles, most recently alongside Killian Brown at their jazz residency in "Shush", and others, including 'Pitch' where he appears alongside jazz pianist and composer Patrick O'Connor and 'Les Deux' with Berklee jazz guitarist Peter Connolly. When in the UK, Mitch performs regularly with funk and soul band, The Visions.
Mitch & Donna have 4 children between them, the eldest of which is Denver, who is a Jazz Vocalist in London (it must be in the genes!) and performs regularly in the London jazz scene while her younger sister, Maddie, is a Forensic Anthropologist in Liverpool. Their two boys, Sam & Ben, have dabbled with the trombone and drums, with Sam actually making his own Bodhrán recently!
He freelances as a composer and performer and in addition to composing for big band & orchestra, Mitch also writes & arranges for brass sections, brass quintet and fanfare team settings.
Mitch is a highly experienced trumpet player in studio, live broadcast and TV show work with experience both on stage and in the orchestra pit. Over the past 30 years as a professional player he has worked with various TV, radio and live West End productions including Starlight Express and South Pacific as well as recording for films. He has played alongside many personalities such as Lulu, Freddie Starr, The Three Degrees, Joe Dolan, Sharon Shannon, The Corrs and Brendan Bowyer.
Having travelled extensively, he has performed at most major venues throughout the world from The Royal Albert Hall to the Sydney Opera House. He has performed with the London Concert Chorus and the London Concert Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestras, and even the US Navy 7th Fleet Big Band and 'The President's Own' US Marine Corps Big Band, the Staff Band of HM Royal Marines and CinC Fleet.
He built his reputation as a big band player has toured the UK, USA, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan & Korea as well as the Persian Gulf. He loves to play jazz of any type but prefers to play big band, a genre in which he enjoys the challenge of high register playing. Influences include Maynard Ferguson, James Morrison, Chet Baker, Clark Terry, Clifford Brown and Roy Hargrove, Tower of Power and Blood Sweat & Tears.
Mitch is an aspiring radio presenter and completed a course in broadcasting with a view to presenting a jazz programme in order to encourage others to get the bug.
twitter: @mitchcuss