Mike Hatchard studied piano with Ronald Lumsden, Harold Parker and later at the Royal College of Music (where he won a prize for composition) with Peter Wallfisch.

Subsequent to this his career was mainly concerned with playing jazz; he toured America with Cleo Laine as a member of the Dankworth Quintet, and became Matt Monro’s youngest ever musical director. Thereafter his work was notable for its extreme variety, in particular with Herbie Flowers of ‘Sky’ fame with whom he worked in prisons, hospitals, concert halls, piers, TV studios, churches and – well, you name it, they played there. He has performed one man concerts at the Purcell Room on the Southbank and written three full length musicals that have been premiered at the Edinburgh Festival (a Vivien Ellis Finalist).