Rhythmically and harmonically exciting and challenging chamber, piano, and band music. Most describe his music as always telling a story, even when not intentionally programmatic.

Mikel was born in Victorville, California in 1964, and began playing piano at the age of eight. He also played clarinet, trombone, saxophone, and percussion throughout junior high and high school.

He continued his education at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, where he studied piano with Nancy Matesky, and trombone with Barry Ehrlich. This was interrupted by an opportunity to work as a church music director. After spending twenty years as a church musician, performing and recording artist, private piano teacher, and recording studio owner/engineer, Mikel returned to school to pursue a degree in Music Education. After an encounter with eighth blackbird, pianist Lisa Kaplan encouraged him to pursue composition.

Mikel now holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Boise State University. There he studied composition with Prof. J. Wallis Bratt, and played percussion in the BSU Symphonic Winds under the direction of Prof. Marcellus Brown.

He received the Griff and Mary Bratt Music Composition Scholarship for three consecutive years, and commissions from the Marsing (Idaho) High School Band and Choir. His Piano Sonata No. 1 "Nostalgia for the Children" has been performed by Dr. James Cook, (music department chair at BSU), Magdalena Zimmerman, (B.M. Performance, Boise State, 2006), James Berry (M.M. Boise State) and Maria Klyutkina (BSU Grad Student). His arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner for Brass Ensemble was featured at the 2006 Boise State University commencement ceremonies, and was given special recognition by university president Robert Kustra. His original score is featured on a short film entitled Proserpine, produced by Born Mad Films. Thirty-one of his works are published by Lighthouse Music Publications in Ontario, Canada.

Mikel is the founder of the Idaho Composers Alliance, and he is also a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the Society of Composers, the National Association of Composers, USA (NACUSA), the American Music Center, MACRO, the Center for the Promotion of Contemporary Composers, and the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers.

Writer's block? What writer's block??

Composition is just improvising in slow motion.

Piano Sonata No. 3 "Phenomena Surreal" - I. The Paradox of the Centrifugal Vortex, II. Resonant Magnetic Condensation, III. Silhouette of the Echo's Mirage, IV. The Spiraling Doppler Prism

The Spartan Suite - for the Marsing High School Band - I. One Leader, One Beat, II. We Play for Glory!, III. Flickering Flutes and Bari Sax Drones, IV. Play Your Part, Play as One, V. Assault the Ears in Harmony

Beautiful - SSA & Piano
Words by Bethany Sevy

Adrift - SA & Piano

Until - SSA & Piano and Baritone and Piano

Piano Sonata No. 2 "Abraham Dwelt" - I. Ur of the Chaldees, II. The Terebinths of Mamre, III. Mount Moriah, IV. The Cave Of Machpelah

Nocturne No. 6 in G Flat Major - Piano: for my Mom, Martha A. Cothran Bell (b.1943)

Nocturne No. 5 in B Major - Piano: for my Dad, David L. Bell (b. 1942)

Messing With Mom (But I AM Practicing My Haydn!) - Piano

Nocturne No. 4 in A Flat Major - Piano: Dedicated to my Grandma, Eleanor Jane Hale Bell (1918-1988).

Nocturne No. 3 in G Major - Piano: Dedicated to my Grandpa, William Alexander Bell (1912-1995).

Nocturne No. 2 in C Major - Piano: Dedicated to my Grandmother, Clara Dean Faulkner Cothran (1917-1998).

Nocturne No. 1 in E Flat Major - Piano: Dedicated to my Grandfather, Robert Samuel Cothran (1909-1983).

Reichenbach's Odylic Explanation for the Perplexing Appeal of That Creepy Sideshow Character - for Brass Quintet

There Would Be Music - SATB with Piano

Gifts - Medium Voice/Piano (lyrics by Akela Marley)

No Mournful Days - for Baritone or Soprano Solo, or Baritone/Soprano Duet with Piano.

Bai Ederra Mendi Gainetan (Isaiah 52:7 - How Beautiful Upon the Mountains) - SATB in BASQUE, for the Biotzetik Basque Choir, Boise, ID.

The Arrival of the Royal Raspberry Farmers - for the Marsing High School Band

Dawnings for Trumpet and Piano - I. The Break of Dawn, II. Dawn's Early Light, III. A New Day Dawning, IV. Watching for Tomorrow's Dawn, V. Awaken the Dawn, VI. Dusk to Dawn, VII. Darkest Before the Dawn, VIII. It Dawned On Me.

Wind, Thou Art A Sculptor - A Capella Choir (SATB)

The Camp Vaudeville March - Tuba/Euphonium Quartet

Breezy, With Swirling Gusts Up To 35 MPH - Violin and Piano

Ezkonberrien Dantza (Dance of the Newlyweds) - String Quartet

Fanfare Humoresque - Brass Ensemble

While the Lavenders Were Blooming - Treble Choir (SSA) and Piano

Proserpine - Short film score for Born Mad Films.

The Abbreviated Saga of Dr. McTazzard, Julian Vempner and His Toad Named Velvet, and the Tongue-Tied Philanthropist - for the Marsing High School Band

Fugue in B Flat Major - Flute/Oboe/Cello

Two-Part Invention in E Minor & Polonaise in D Major - Harpsichord

Piano Sonata No. 1 "Nostalgia for the Children" - I. Judah, II. Josiah, III. Rachel, IV. Kids at Play

Variations on 'Gernikako Arbola' (Hymn of the Basque Country) - Piano

The Critter Suite - Flute/Alto Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Piano, Viola, Cello -
I. Blackbird Squabble, II. The Vulnar Worm, III. Squirrelly Schizo Scherzo