Miguel Atwood-Ferguson


Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is a Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, session musician, arranger, composer, music director, producer, DJ, orchestral conductor and educator. He has contributed to over 500 recordings and scores for television and film with notable musicians such as Ray Charles, Flying Lotus, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Bilal, Seu Jorge, and Thundercat.

Early life

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson grew up in Topanga, California, a famed arts district in Western Los Angeles. His parents instilled in him a basic appreciation of every culture around the world and an ethic of dedicated study. His father is a multi-instrumentalist, backing people such as Etta James, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Ry Cooder, and Johnny Otis as a multi-instrumentalist. His mother was an educator with a passion for empowering those around her. Together his parents created a childhood environment rich in diverse sounds. He began listening to music in utero during weekly jam sessions his parents attended. As an infant when left alone in his crib, his parents put on repeat tapes with music by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, and Mozart. At age four, Atwood-Ferguson's parents enrolled him in weekly violin lessons after he expressed interest in playing the violin upon seeing other children playing the instrument at the music institute where his brother was studying piano. Following this early exposure, he enrolled in weekly violin, chamber music, and music theory lessons, and joined the Orchestra da' Camera at The Colburn School from ages 8–15. During this time he began composing for symphonic orchestra, with his first original symphonic composition played by the Pacific Palisades Symphony at age ten. At age twelve he switched to viola and continued focusing on classical music while an interest in the music of Motown, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles also continued to develop. In high school he developed interests in jazz and hip-hop which have carried over into a lifelong passion and career.

Education

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson attended University of Southern California in Los Angeles, graduating with a bachelor's degree in classical viola. During this time he studied with Professor Donald McInnes, student of William Primrose with direct ties to Beethoven.

Career

Atwood-Ferguson is currently working on his first solo album, Les Jardins Mystiques, which will be released on Brainfeeder in 2019.

Spirituality

Atwood-Ferguson practices Nichiren Buddhism with the Soka Gakkai International.