"Mark Byron"
Growing up in a musical family, Lexington-based Cruse was taken under the wing of master musician Charles Quillings at a young age, a mentorship that led to Cruse’s infatuation with the trumpet. He attended the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music on scholarship for jazz trumpet performance and performs consistently with the Michael Cruse Quintet, The Clifton Collective, the Company Band, Hot Magnolias and various other small groups.