Mickey has devoted his life to his family, friends and to the thousands upon thousands of students he has taught since 1957. Mickey is loved by all who know him, and he shares his love of music with his students, and their families, and has never turned a student away for lack of ability to pay, even in his private practice. Mickey began playing violin in elementary school in Los Angeles in the early 1950’s, in the heyday of young talent emerging through the Los Angeles music programs and creating the fabric of the arts embedded so deeply in our community today. He continued playing violin and viola through middle school and, in 1956 at Los Angeles High School, he met music director John Deichman, the man who would be his mentor and role model for the rest of his life. Being born into a modest family, he took violin lessons whenever he could, with anyone who was willing to give him the time, and always grateful for it. His teachers included Bonnie Beale, John Polifroninio, Gertrude Block, as well as members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In high school, under the gentle “persuasion” of John Deichman, he added tuba to his resume, which he played in the United States Army Band from 1962-1964, just as Deichman had done two decades prior, playing trumpet. Before going into the Army, he played with the Los Angeles All City Orchestra and the Peter Meremblum Youth Orchestra. He studied at Los Angeles City College and California State University Los Angeles, all the while performing and staying active in music.



Mickey taught at the Eubanks Conservatory from 1957 – 1961. After returning from the Army, he began teaching string instruments, ensembles and orchestra at the Neighborhood Music Settlement School in 1964 and has taught continuously at the school since then. He taught, and later became the director of, the Cal State LA Saturday Conservatory, from 1964 until his retirement from the Conservatory in 2009. Having never actually retired, five years later he began teaching at the Corona Symphony Conservatory. He is now the Executive Director of the Conservatory, and is busier than ever with his beautiful wife of over 60 years, Bea, who is forever by his side, be it teaching music, playing Banjo in several local performance groups, traveling in their 1931 Model A Ford, restoring cars with their Model A club, visiting friends and family, and spending time with the true love of their lives, Malkie, their toy poodle. While Mickey enjoys many hobbies and activities, music has been the pillar upon which he has built all of these other joys, loves, skills and successes. The playing and the sharing of music through teaching has been a cornerstone of his life.