Michael Tavera began playing piano at the age of four, performing at five, and composing at 12. He trained as a classical pianist for ten years, and supplemented that foundation with a passion to master every music idiom.
Michael began his career creating a full-length, original musical while he was still in high school. He honed his talents as a song writer and performer in several bands, and shortly after moving to Los Angeles, landed a song-writing deal with Criterion Music Publishing. But in spite of his success, Michael discovered he had bigger ambitions. He stopped performing to devote himself to studying theory, arranging and conducting.
While still writing songs, he began arranging for big bands. Soon, he was composing for full orchestra and scoring for television, incorporating his knack for song melody into all his work.
Michael's early works have been heard by millions of children worldwide. He has scored over 700 animated network television episodes including the series House Of Mouse, Toonsylvania, Casper, Beethoven, Ed Grimley, Sonic the Hedgehog and Back To The Future, to name a few. In addition, his scores for the animated Land Before Time sequels have received critical acclaim. Disney, Dreamworks SKG, Universal Studios, Film Roman, DIC, and Hanna-Barbera are among his regular animation clients.
On television's adult side, Michael's credits include Hyperion Bay, Charlie Hoover, Good Sports, and Melrose Place. For Von Zerneck/Sertner Films he scored four television movies, No One Would Tell, Dying to Belong, Two Came Back and Holiday in the Heart.
Michael's work in television has made him a sought-after composer for film in recent years. His credits include scores for Drowning Mona (Neverland Films/Jersey Shore Productions), Excellent Cadavers (HBO Pictures), Mr. Payback (Sony Pictures), Lucky Stiff (New Line Cinema), Bitter Harvest (Prism Films), and Frozen Assets (Skouras Films) for which he also wrote eight songs. In a three picture deal with Walt Disney Pictures, Michael scored Mr. Magoo, Rocket Man, and Honey We Shrunk Ourselves.
Michael works constantly with the best musicians in the world. He's highly regarded on sound stages from Los Angeles to London.
Michael's resumé in PDF form (right-click to save)
Visit Michael at the Internet Movie Database