MICHAEL BENEDICT | SoultoneCymbals.com

MICHAEL BENEDICT

MICHAEL BENEDICT

Michael studied percussion with Jim Petercsak at the Crane School of Music
at the State University College of New York (SUNY) at Potsdam and
graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He later
attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University under the
tutelage of Keith Copeland and graduated in 1990 with a Master’s Degree in
Jazz Studies. Michael served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dan
Morgenstern at the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies.
Michael has performed and/or recorded with jazz luminaries Gary Smulyan,
Harry Allen, Dick Oatts, Steve Nelson, Sharel Cassity, Bruce Barth, Joe
Locke, Rene Flemming, Gene Bertoncini, Marian McPartland, J.R.
Monterose and Nick Brignola. He was a member of the Spike Jones
Orchestra and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. He has toured the United
States extensively, performing at numerous concert halls, colleges, clubs and
festivals and has performed in Europe. In 2012, Michael went on a US State
Department tour of Tunisia, Africa where he taught and performed with the
Planet Arts Trio.
Michael is currently the leader of three ensembles, Jazz Vibes, BOPITUDE
and The Gary McFarland Legacy Ensemble. He has released five recordings
to date. Downbeat Magazine picked BOPITUDE “Five and One” as one of
the Best Albums of 2013. His most recent release, “Circulation: The Music
of Gary McFarland”, was an Editor’s pick in Downbeat Magazine and listed
as one of the Best Jazz Albums of 2015 by National Public Radio and critics
Ted Gioa and Scott Yanow.
After teaching High School Band and Jazz Ensemble in the Northern
Catskill Region of New York State, Michael retired in 2015 after a twentyfive
year tenure. He has served as the past president of the Albany
Musicians Union and the Greene County Music Educators Association. He
is currently a member of the National Association for Music Education and
the New York State Band Directors Association. Michael is an Artist
Endorser for Soultone Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion and Silverfox
Drumsticks.

My Soultone Set: 

18" Custom Brilliant Ride
20" Custom Brilliant Ride
14" Custom Brilliant Hi Hat Pair
16" Custom Brilliant Crash