Michael Nielsen is coordinator of the Masters in Jazz Performance Degree programme at the Dublin Institute of Technology. He has performed with many leading international jazz artists, most notably Dave Liebman, with whom he recorded twice, and toured Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He was awarded a Licentiate of Trinity College, London (LTCL) in classical guitar performance and received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, Boston. Michael also holds an MPhil in microtonal theory and physics and a PhD in microtonal improvisation which included the design of original microtonal guitars, composition and notation. He is a prolific composer in the genre of contemporary jazz and microtonal music and has appeared on 18 recordings. His MPhil research features in the new edition of The Contemporary Guitar by John Schneider, and Schott will publish his book, Precision Timing for All Instruments in 2016.