Mike has been teaching music for 40 years. Though specializing in strings he's an accomplished pianist, singer/songwriter and a pretty good drummer and sax player too, with instruction programs for all these areas. As a student Mike studied music under Steve Rivera and Craig Thatcher. After a year at Julliard School in NYC (1981) he went on tour as lead guitarist with rock group Outsider ('81-84), as guitarist/violinist for country group Dusty Roads ('85-'92), and teaching when not on the road.
In '95 while on hiatus from traveling, Mike earned an associates degree in Business Admin from Allentown College, then toured internationally with Mike Dugan & the Blues Mission ('96-2002) appearing with Robert Cray, BB King, Jimmy Vaughn and others.
Retiring from the national circuit in 2004 to spend more time with family, Mike still performs regularly with his variety band (Mike Stanley & Friends) and as a solo artist around the Lehigh Valley region. Originally from Quakertown, Mike served as a visiting instructor for the Perkiomen School and as music director for the Upper Buck Alliance for Creative Expression. (UBACE)