The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 35
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The résumé of Michael WilsonTrollip (2018B) is astonishing. He
started his musical journey at age
six with classical piano lessons, and
is now accomplished in numerous
music-related vocations – as
a keyboardist, film composer,
final mixer, sound designer and
producer. At school, he made the
Bishops music department proud
with Grade 8 distinctions in piano,
oboe, voice and pipe organ. He won
several awards as a composer and
performer, and opened for Johnny
Clegg at age 16. He then went on to
Berklee College of Music in Boston
on scholarship.
Michael has since composed
music for local dramas and awardwinning films. Now operating
from his studio in Cape Town, he
is endorsed by top international
music brands Nord and
Sennheiser/Neumann, is
recognised as an innovative Dolby
Atmos engineer, and frequently
works as a session keyboardist.
He has performed with SAMAwinning musicians, worked
with The Voice South Africa artists,
and been nominated for a South
African Film and Television Award.
He has performed on some of
the country’s biggest stages, most
notably at a packed DHL Stadium
with GoodLuck, when they opened
for Robbie Williams at Calabash
Cape Town in 2025. Other artists
involved included Green Day,
The Offspring and Matthew Mole.
Michael currently serves as the
music supervisor and re-recording
mixer on Diepe Waters, a flagship
drama series on kykNET with 600+
episodes. He is also a member of
the international touring band
The Groove Missionaries, which
performs at major festivals.
We chatted to him to find out
a little more.
Was there a particular music teacher
who inspired you at school?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate
to have had inspiring teachers
throughout my life – people who
pushed me, challenged me and
shaped the way I think about
music. Mark Mitchell, during my
time at Bishops, was especially
influential. He made me realise
that a career in music was actually
possible. Even today, I can still pick
up the phone and ask any of my
teachers for advice – Joc Wrensch,
Stephen Carletti, Beverly Howman
and John Rojas – which says a lot
about the impact they have had
on me.
it just looks a little different, and
you have to create it yourself.
Are there any colleagues, mentors
or people in the business who still
make an impression on you?
I’m inspired constantly –
sometimes by people, sometimes
by moments. Recently, Ben Peters
of GoodLuck has had a big impact.
He helped me recognise that I’m
actually doing this – I have a real
career in music – and that in itself
is something to be proud of. He also
reinforced the idea of always
pushing a little further. If you
consistently do just 10% more
than the person next to you,
you’re already moving forward.
Did you always know that music
was going to be your career?
Is it a “happy” career?
There was a brief moment when
I applied for medicine – as well as
a hidden ambition to be a Formula
1 car designer – but in hindsight,
I think that would have been
completely the wrong world
for me. We’re often drawn to
the perceived stability of more
“formal” professions, and for a
while that influenced my thinking.
Eventually I realised that you can
build stability within music as well;
That’s a loaded question! Like any
career, there are incredible highs –
and also difficult “Why am I doing
this to myself?” moments. But
I genuinely can’t imagine doing
anything else. I’ve learnt that
sometimes you have to actively
look for happy moments because
life – and this industry – can feel
overwhelming. My approach is
simple: do one small thing every
day that makes you happy.
Michael learns
to electronica…
