Mike Rihner was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his Masters in Music Composition from Louisiana State University in 1994, and he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition from the University of New Orleans in 1989. Instructors and mentors at LSU were Matthew Brown, Steve Beck, and Dinos Constantinides; Instructors at UNO were Jerry Sieg, Thomas Mitts, and Ellis Marsalis. Mike also studied music in Innsbruck, Austria for one summer session via the UNO-Innsbruck international student exchange program. He graduated from Jesuit High school in New Orleans where was a percussionist in the concert and marching bands. Mike also studied piano and guitar during high school and later performed as keyboardist, guitarist, drummer, bassist, and vocalist with many various New Orleans musical ensembles.
Some notable composition awards include the National Historic Park Service Award to compose “Battle of New Orleans: Score for Unity” (2014) – the SURDNA Arts Fellowship Award to compose “New Orleans Suite” (2005) – the Louisiana Jazz Composers Award (1994) – the Southeastern Composers League Chamber Music Award (1989). A list of compositions includes 3 orchestral suites, a jazz big band suite, a symphony, over 55 instrumental works, several chamber works, incidental theater and film music, dozens of various piano works, and several short songs.
Significant performances include two separate Carnegie Hall orchestra concerts, the “New Orleans Suite” (2009) and “Dance Suite” (2015), both performed by GNOYO and sponsored by Mid-America Productions. The “Battle of New Orleans: Score for Unity” suite for big band was performed
at the U.S. Mint Theater, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and Snug Harbor in New Orleans (2015.) Other performances include the “Waterton-Glacier Suite” for orchestra which was performed twice in Vancouver Canada by the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra (2005 and 2020.) Various chamber works have also been performed throughout the New Orleans area. Local television appearances include “Louisiana Jukebox,” and “L-TV,” both showcasing some of Rihner’s modern jazz compositions and performances.
As a band leader, Mike’s modern ensemble “Rhino” has performed at many notable New Orleans area music venues and festivals over the years, including two performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (2000 and 2005.) Rihner continues to perform at various music clubs, restaurants, and other venues in the New Orleans area. During the summer months, for more than 20 summer seasons, Rihner has been the resident pianist and entertainer in the historic lodges of Glacier National Park in northwest Montana.
As a vocalist, Rihner has sung in the chorus for two New Orleans Opera productions, Wagner’s ‘Flying Dutchman‘ (2010) and Pucinni’s ‘Turandot’ (2012.) He has also sung several vocal masterworks with the Louisiana Symphony Chorus, including Mozart’s ‘Requiem,’ Beethoven’s ‘9th Symphony,’ and Mahler’s ‘2nd Symphony,’ and Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ all performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Rihner has also been lead vocalist in various local bands in the New Orleans area.
Rihner has been a professional music educator in New Orleans since 1995. Rihner taught full-time at the New Orleans Center of Creative Arts (1997-2020) and also served as interim music department chairman there for two years (2002-2004). Rihner taught music theory at Loyola University College of Music and Delgado Community College in New Orleans from (1996-2001.) Rihner also served as interim music composition professor at the University of New Orleans (2010-2014.) He continues to teach composition as a visiting artist at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.