UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance

University of Michigan Percussion Alumni are extraordinarily diverse in their achievements and continue to represent some of the music world's leading performers, educators, composers, conductors and musical entrepreneurs. From classical to jazz, from pop music to world music, from public and private schools across America to some of the country's leading universities, from intimate jazz venues to sold out concert halls and stadiums, University of Michigan Percussion Alumni can be found achieving success in virtually all areas of percussion.

Our alumni perform and tour internationally with groups including Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, Josh Groban, Il Divo, David Foster, perform with orchestras such as Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Detroit, New World, Chicago, Orchestra de Lyon, St. Paul Chamber, Baltimore, Delaware, San Antonio, Grand Rapids, Chautauqua, Jacksonville, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Ft. Wayne, Flint, Madison, Florida, St. Lukes, Orpheus Chamber, Metropolitan Opera, Kennedy Center Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera, and the Florida Philharmonic. Alumni also perform with the President’s Own Marine Band and the Army Band "Pershing's Own"

University of Michigan percussion students have participated the following festivals: National Repertory Orchestra, Tanglewood, Aspen, Spoleto-Italy, Spoleto-Charleston, Idyllwild, Graz- Austria, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and Bowdoin.

University of Michigan Percussion graduates have also achieved consistent success in securing fellowships and assistantships at many leading graduate schools and conservatories including: Juilliard, Indiana, Temple, New England Conservatory, University of Wisconsin, among others.

Our alumni are teaching and performing at leading universities, colleges, and conservatories including Michigan, Curtis, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin-Madison, Taipei, Lewis and Clark, Texas A&M-Commerce, Kunitachi in Tokyo, Ft. Lewis, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Louisiana State, Eastern Oregon, Ohio-Athens, Singapore Conservatory, Penn State, Ohio, Tampa, Florida Southern, Toledo, Towson, Austin Peay, Oakland, and Miami.

Our alumni have also conducted the following orchestras: St. Louis, Bozeman, Texas Tech, and New Zealand. Many former percussion students tour internationally with groups as varied as Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Keiko Abe and MCP, Keiko Abe and Galaxy, Les Percussions de Strasbourg (France), The Wurzburg Percussion Quartet (Germany), the John Neptune Bamboo Orchestra (Tokyo), the Ju Percussion Group (Taipei), Los Gatos, Axiom, and the Chris & Shoko Duo (Tokyo). Many have gone on to successful freelance careers, recording for Lucas Films, playing for musicals on Broadway, and performing onstage at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.

Dave Alcorn (BM 2010) Awarded full tuition graduate fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Brian Baldauff (MM 2009) Named Director of Percussion Studies and athletic bands at West Liberty University, DMA Candidate at Florida State University
Jeff Barudin (DMA 2009) Named Professor of Percussion at Linwood University
Pius Cheung (DMA 2010) named Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Oregon, CD of Bach’s Goldberg Variations

reviewed in a feature story in The New York Times and coverage in the U.S. on National Public Radio and in Canada on CBC Radio. Has toured extensively as a concerto and recital soloist around the world. Highlights of his recent performances include concerts at the Usedomer Music Festival in Germany, Hong Kong Arts Festival, 8th International Marimba Festival in Mexico, Percussive Arts Society International Convention 2009, Terrace Theater at Kennedy Center and Zankel Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Michael Coletti (BM 2010) Awarded a full tuition Teaching Assistantship at Indiana University
Peter Dodds (BM 2011) Awarded scholarship for graduate study at the New England Conservatory
Eliza Kinney (BM 2011) Awarded scholarship for graduate study at the New England Conservatory
Sam Livingston (BM 2010) Awarded a full-time internship at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Washington D.C.
Neeraj Mehta (DMA - ABD 2010) Awarded Fulbright Award to study in Denmark with Gert Mortensen, Named Professor at Casper College (WY)
Jonathan Smith (BM 2009) Awarded scholarship for graduate study at the Julliard School
Ian Sullivan (BM 2010) Awarded scholarship for graduate study at the Julliard School
Scott Verdiun (BM 2010) Awarded a full tuition graduation fellowship at Temple University
Xavier Verna (BM 2011) Finalist, Atlanta Snare Drum Competition - 2011; named drumline director at University of Toledo