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Just a little about me...

Hello, my name is Michael Cookson and this is my website.

I work as a freelance Sound Engineer and Web Designer while also studying Electronic Engineering at the University of Leeds.

This website has a lot about me and what I do, I hope you find at least some of it interesting or entertaining. 

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My Profile.
Welcome to my profile. This page contains some details about me, my interests and my life.  I would ask that no one uses any information on this page to bribe me or commit identity fraud.

Born and Raised
Written by Michael Cookson   
Sunday, 19 October 2008 23:00
I was born on the 10th of March 1988 in Doncaster, the son of George and Gaynor.

Since that day I have lived my life based on three central principals...

  • Caring for other people;
  • Exploring, learning and understanding;
  • Making the most of life.
I try and take a great amount of care and thought when dealing with other people - whether I know them or they are a stranger. I believe that there are many people that have overlooked simple manners but my faith in humanity and common courtesy is often bolstered in a small way every time someone says excuse me, thank you, smiles at you or is generally polite or kind. 
 
I suppose I believe in a sort of karma, do good and good will happen to you, and because of this I always try to deal with people how I would like to be dealt with by others. I
 
I like, no love, to explore the world that I find myself in. I don't like not understanding how something works, how people think or why something happens and thus I find myself driven to learn as much about things as possible. Because of this I often find myself exploring some abstract theories within physics, mathematics as well as other topics such as psychology, politics, human behaviour, finance and economics etc.
 
I want to make the most of the time I have on this wonderful planet. I do spend a fair proportion of my time staring at a computer, but then again I do a lot more as well than most other people. I have so many friends and colleagues that miss out on some of the simple, wonderful and beautiful things in life that really do feel fulfilling and remind you why you work so hard the rest of the time. I hope that my enthusiasm doesn't drain away when I enter the world of work. 
 
Originally when I was writing those bullet points 'Making the most of life' was replaced with 'Have as much fun as I can' then I realised that making the most of life can't always be fun. For example I want to have qualifications, like my degree, yet I can't honestly say that I find it fun all or, at points, even most of the time but it's all about developing as a human - and thus I chose making the most of life over the unrealistic aim of just having fun!
 
In short, I care for those around me - friend, stranger or even foe (of which I can't think of any) - I love to understand the world around me and to that end explore and like trying new things and I want to make the most of my time on this earth by having fun, learning, meeting more people and trying to make life for everyone around me just that little happier. 
 
Education and Schooling
Written by Michael Cookson   
Sunday, 19 October 2008 23:03
Degree

I am currently in the third year of a four year MEng degree reading Electronic Engineering at the University of Leeds, UK.

I have always been interested in engineering and technology, especially electronics, so my degree choice was practically decided for me. During my degree I will have studied many aspects of electronics with the key topics being:

  • Analogue circuit design and analysis
  • Communication Systems
  • Semiconductor Physics and Materials
  • Embedded Systems Design
  • Radio Frequency/High Frequency Electronics
  • Electric Drives (Motors/Generators/Alternators etc.)
  • Energy Transfer Systems (Power Electronics/Transformers etc.)
  • Advanced Analytical Techniques (aka Mathematics)

 

A-levels

I studied for my AS and A-levels at the South Leeds Partnership - which consisted of several south Leeds educational establishments. I was only taught at Rodillian School and Royds School. While at 6th form I obtained:

  • Mathematics A-level
  • Physics A-level
  • Chemistry A-level
  • Photography AS-level 

GCSE's and Secondary School

Between the ages of 11 and 16 I went to Rodillian School, South Leeds. I left the school with GCSE's in:

  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • Biology
  • Information Technology
  • Geography
  • Design Technology: Systems and Control
  • Religious Education (Short Course)

Primary School

Ok, even at my age primary school is a long time ago but my feelings towards it is that it set me up for the rest of my career in education and thus deserves a mention! I went to Robin Hood Primary School leaving there in 1999, when I was 11.
 
Employment History
Written by Michael Cookson   
Wednesday, 22 October 2008 01:50

2007 - present; Sound Engineer; Garforth Arts Festival; Garforth Community College

I have been employed for both the 2007 and 2008 festivals, and am already involved in the preliminary stages of it's continuation in 2009.

As the only sound engineer on the festival team I am responsible for the equipping, crewing, engineering and associated logistics for the majority of festival events. My work with the festival has lead me to be involved in events that have hosted such talent as Richard Hawley, Soweto Kinch, Jazz Jamaica, Gervase Phinn, Tony Benn, 3 Daft Monkeys, Chichino and Middleman in 2008 as well as Courtney Pine, James Taylor Quartet, Sean Hargreaves, The Ian McMillan Orchestra, Cara Robinson, Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatches and Kate Rusby in 2007.

2006 - present; Sound Engineer and Web Administrator; Garforth Community Arts School; Garforth Community College

While this and my work at the Garforth Arts Festival are with the same people in the same place my roles are slightly separated. I work within the GCAS structure providing engineering to GCAS events, including my post as resident engineer of the Garforth Jazz Rock Band (GJRB) and educational projects as well as design and administer the GCAS and GCAS group websites.

2005 - 2007; Sound Engineer; Rodillian School, An Arts College

I was employed through my sixth form years (2004-2006) at Rodillian, where I was school from being eleven, as the school sound engineer after being involved in productions there from an early age. I worked on all of the musical productions that the school produced as well as the large number of regular events throughout the year that needed some lighting or sound reinforcement. During my time at the school I also was involved in some basic training of a number of school students in the art of the techie. While I ceased regular employment with them in early 2007 I have since been involved in no fewer than four performances with them in a freelance capacity. 

2004 - 2005; Christmas Temp. Sales Assistant; Carr Gate Garden Centre

We've all got to do it at some time in our life - that juant into the world of working in retail which has become a modern right of passage. My experience in retail started and ended around the Christmas of 2004 where I worked in a garden centre manning the check-outs on Saturday mornings. Oh what fun was had, well ok it wasn't that bad but I still prefer my current job/s!

Freelance work

I have also got a long list of free lance work that I have completed - some of which is detailed in the sound engineering and web design sections of this website. I work for a number of venues and/or companies on a fairly regular basis but the causal arrangements meant I though I would leave them out of the picture - for now.