Michael Goldthorpe is a graduate of Cambridge University. He holds a PGCE from London University and is an Honorary Member of the Cambridge Society of Musicians. He was awarded the Mirsky Memorial Prize for Lieder at the Guildhall School of Music, and at the outset of his career, recitals by Greater London Arts, the ISM and Park Lane Group. He was awarded a Wingate Scholarship in 1994 to research, catalogue, record and perform popular Victorian and Edwardian ballads. This led to the formation of the group, The Bold Balladiers. In the academic field Michael was invited to devise the singing curriculum for the Associated Board's Mentor Scheme.
In 1999 he became a member of The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain. The same year he was awarded accreditation as an associate Teacher in Higher Education by the Universities of Southampton, Surrey and London.