Mike Runyan is an entertainer who uses the harmonica, a variety of musical styles, a bit of magic and his wacky wit to delight and enthuse.

Mike first picked up a harmonica when one was tossed into the back seat of the family station wagon by his dad on a long vacation (it missed his head, but people wonder…).

Music had been an interest from early on—Mike began piano lessons at age six, took up trumpet in grade school and French horn in high school. He enjoyed playing classical, pop and jazz. While pianist for his high school swing choir, he rekindled his interest in the harmonica by learning to play a 10-hole chromatic for a choir piece calling for a harmonica obbligato. He found it hard to put the darn thing down after that.

Also while in high school, Mike started composing and arranging, a discipline he decided to pursue in college. He eventually earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

During his many years of schooling, Mike freelanced as an arranger, music copyist, teacher and studio musician. His experience was eventually found to be the perfect match for heading the music preparation and library operations at the Indianapolis Symphony, where he has worked since 1986.

The symphonic world has provided Mike many opportunities to bring out his harmonicas, both as an orchestra member and as a soloist. In 1999, Mike filled in at the last minute for an ailing Larry Adler with Marvin Hamlisch at the podium. Since then, Mike has developed various novelty routines and has performed with orchestras across North America, including the Baltimore Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Besides performing, Mike composes and arranges in collaboration with his wife, Pamela. Between them, they have over 100 published compositions and arrangements, which are performed around the world.