Dr. Michael Barranco currently resides in Fairfax, Virginia. Michael’s schooling includes a DMA degree from George Mason University, Master’s degree in Music Performance from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. He is a multifaceted musician, active in the fields of performance, education, and instrument repair. 

 

As an educator, Michael leads percussion studies at NOVA Community College and teaches K-8 general and instrumental music at Burgundy Farm Country Day School. In addition these roles, he is a coveted clinician for percussion programs in the Northern Virginia area. At George Mason, he held the titles of Graduate Lecturer, Graduate Teaching Assistant, and Graduate Peer Advisor—leading world music courses, coaching percussion ensembles, and assisting graduate students with their imperative needs. He has led courses in percussion methods, percussion instruction, and percussion ensembles at the collegiate level.  

 

Michael's current research focuses on the timbre qualities of acoustic percussion instruments. He is an active member of the Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion, College Music Society, Percussive Arts Society, and the National Association for Music Education, in which he was elected President of Saint Rose’s chapter from 2013-2014. 

 

As a performer, Michael currently holds the positions of principal percussion with the American Festival Pops Orchestra and regularly performs with the IN Series Opera Company. Orchestrally, he has performed with the Capital City Symphony, Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and Saint Rose Camerata. Michael also performs with chamber ensembles, brass bands, choirs, wind ensembles, and is an active musician in the DC musical theatre scene. His current percussion studies are led by John Spirtas of the Washington National Opera, with prior instruction conducted by John Kilkenny, Jon Bisesi, David Collier, Ben Stiers, Mark Foster, and Cliff Brucker. 

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Michael is endorsed by Artifact Percussion.  

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