Michael Bester

BIO

Michael Bester is a guitarist, composer, songwriter and musical director based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied jazz guitar at the University of Cape Town, travelled the world for two years, lived and worked as a session guitarist in London, studied jazz guitar in New York City and has performed in Shanghai as well as many cities in the US, UK and South Africa. Now he lives in Johannesburg, playing his guitar and writing music.

Michael is a member of iconic South African band Mango Groove and can be seen performing as a session player at major music festivals and on television shows year-round, including 'Noot vir Noot', 'SA Idols', 'Strictly Come Dancing' and 'Clash of the Choirs'. In 2008 he was awarded the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship for Instrumentalists. In 2013 he won a SAFTA (South African Film and Television Award) for Best Film Soundtrack for 'Semi-Soet', along with co-composer Andrew Baird.