Graduate Peer Advisor, CVPA
Biography
Michael is from the small town of Waxhaw, near Charlotte, North Carolina. Waxhaw is where he grew up, except for two years spent in Nairobi, Kenya. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC in 2016, and earned his Master's Degree in Percussion Performance at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in 2018. He now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and is currently working on his dissertation for his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Percussion at George Mason University. He has taught students of every level from Kindergarten through university, in private lessons, percussion classes, and ensembles.
He is a versatile percussionist, and has been playing since he began in band at age 13. His favorite instrument and first love is the marimba, followed closely by funk and metal drum set, but he enjoys playing any kind of percussion he can get his hands on, including tabla. He also plays guitar, bass, and sitar.
Michael was the drummer for Depot Street, a funk-rock band based in Boone, NC. He was instrumental in releasing their 2021 debut album Home, Sweet Home, contributing 5 original songs to the album. He released his debut solo album To The Wind in 2024, featuring 13 original funk-rock songs.