Michael Leuschner was born in 1962 in Lagos, Nigeria. He received his first musical training at   Marmstorf Elementary school of Hamburg. At the age of 16 he met Bob Lanese, an American trumpet player who was to become his teacher and long time friend. It was he who recommended Michael enter the music program at the University of North Texas where he received a Bachelor´s degree in Jazz studies followed by a Master´s degree in Trumpet Performance. He was appointed Teaching Assistant of the school of music directing jazz lab bands as well as teaching German at the departement of foreign languages. Privately he studied with trumpet legend Don “Jake” Jacoby and gained his first experiences as a professionell trumpet player in the Latin music scene of Dallas.

Since 1992 Michael has been living in Hamburg as a freelance trumpeter. He is an established lead player in the musical scene and has  performed with the Hamburg Symphony as well as  productions at the <Deutsches Schauspielhaus>. He toured Europe and Japan with the Tony Award winning show <Fosse> and works regularily  with the NDR Big Band, where he has performed with Herb Geller, Abdullah Ibrahim, Al Jarreau et al. In 2008 he performed with Paul Anka. He is a regular member of the Chris Fidler Octet and the Stefan Gwildis Band.

He co-founded the Hamburg based <Count Pauli Big Band> the Trio <Feld Neun> and created the project <Prince of Darkness>, a tribute to the lifework of Miles Davis.

As a lecturer he has given seminars at the University of Rostock . Starting in 2009 he directs the all state Youth Jazz Orchestra of Mecklenburg -  Vorpommern.