Mike Rocha

Los Angeles-based music artist, expert arranger, and meme connoisseur Mike Rocha is a talented and charismatic force in this age of musical enterprise. Whether performing in formal orchestral settings, high-profile cinema appearances, in a jazz club with other dude(tte)s, or in costume singing and dancing, Mike is noted for his professional excellence and integrity.

While Mike plays with countless ensembles, too many to list here, he is most noted for his work with the Lappitt-Rocha Septet, who just recorded their first album, First Take. Other artists' groups which have been graced with Mike's presence include Panic at the Disco, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilara, Idina Menzel, Bob Dylan, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band & Little Phat Band, Death from Above 1979, John Daversa Big Band, the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble, the Geoff Stradling Large Ensemble, the Alan Chan Big Band, and the Vardan Ovsepian chamber ensemble.

In addition to these elite performance undertakings, Mike works as an educator, tirelessly shaping the minds of our musical future. Mike imparts the great importance of technical diligence to his students while also managing to keep lessons enjoyable; students have been known to exclaim spontaneously during class, “THIS IS SO FUN!!!” Mike currently teaches at Occidental College, and the Harvard-Westlake School

As if this all wasn't enough, Mike is a sought-after composer, arranger, and transcriber. Recent endeavors include two new books of jazz arrangements for string quartet, available for purchase in the sheet music section of this website. You won't want to miss this chance to own music written by such an incredible talent.

In his free time, Mike likes to cook salted noodles and lentil soup and to partake in various bro activities. He aspires to compete in chess tournaments, for which he practices daily on his iPhone.