Mike McDermott is an alumnus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he received a degree in jazz performance, and finance. He has performed with several guest artists, including but not limited to: Paquito D’Rivera, James Morrison, Arturo O’Farrill, Benny Golson, Jose Valentino, Eric Marienthal, Etienne Charles, Karrin Allyson, Bria Skonberg, Francisco Torres, Andre Hayward, and Kris Berg.
While at UNO, Mike has performed with UNO Jazz ensemble 1 and 2, and UNO Combo 1. With these groups, Mike has performed at the Jewell, NOMA, Jazz on the Green, Omaha Jitterbugs, Kroc Center, the UNO Jazz Festival, and has even made a guest appearance with the Omaha Symphony. Mike had the privilege of studying abroad for a semester in Riga, Latvia at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where he studied under Artis Orubs and Kaspars Kurdeko. Mike has been performing as a freelance drummer, pianist, and educator in Omaha for several years.