About Mike Paul-Smith

Mike Paul-Smith is a musical director and pianist from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. His musical education began at Aylesbury Music Centre where he received classical piano tuition from former BBC Young Musician of the Year Anna Markland and jazz piano tuition from Gwilym Simcock and Jo Ruddick. With the bands at Aylesbury Music Centre, Mike performed at The North Sea Jazz Festival and alongside jazz greats including Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone.

At university, Mike was the student director and pianist of the University of London Big Band, which he directed for two shows at the 2015 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. As a percussionist Mike also performed with Oxford Millennium Orchestra, The Oxford University Big Band and numerous other student ensembles.

In 2005 Mike formed swing and soul band Down for the Count, a band he runs to this day. Often found at jazz clubs, theatres and concert halls, Mike is the group’s principal conductor, arranger and orchestrator. In addition to his work orchestrating and arranging for Down for the Count, Mike has also orchestrated work for The London Musical Theatre Orchestra and the West End Scratch Orchestra concerts at London’s Cadogan Hall, and has played on the UK Tour of Les Misérables. 

Mike was a founding member of Songbird Productions, which went on to become Aylesbury Vale Youth Theatre, creating performance opportunities for 16- to 25-year-olds in Buckinghamshire. Mike co-produced and musical directed their first show City of Angels and has also musical directed a number of other musicals including Anything Goes, Oklahoma!, Carousel and A Chorus Line.

In 2023 Mike launched Mike Paul-Smith Music – gathering together all the bands that he runs and manages in one place. Mike Paul-Smith Music is a trading name of Down for the Count Ltd., the parent company of which Mike is the Company Director.

Mike has 18 years experience providing music for private events in the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa.