Mike Paul-Smith is Down for the Count Orchestra's principal conductor, orchestrator and arranger. Mike studied piano under the tutelage of former BBC Young Musician of the Year Anna Markland, and has performed at The Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Royal Festival Hall.
As a musical director Mike's credits include Anything Goes, Oklahoma! (Bloomsbury Theatre), A Chorus Line (Pendley Court Theatre) and Carousel (The Old Fire Station). Mike was a founding member of Aylesbury Vale Youth Theatre, and music directed their first production City of Angels.
Mike has also directed the University of London Big Band (including at The Montreux Jazz Festival), and with various other bands has performed at The North Sea Jazz Festival, The London Jazz Festival and Twinwood Festival.
Mike founded Down for the Count in 2005.