Michael Dolese

Michael Dolese (b. 1999) is a current Doctoral student at the University of Arizona and is a recent graduate of James Madison University with a Masters of Music in Percussion graduating in 2023, and Shenandoah University with a Bachelors of Music Education and a Performance Certificate, graduating in the May of 2021. Michael has continued his path as an educator by maintaining a small private studio in addition to his current studies.

As a performer, Michael plays in a variety of settings including musical theatre pits, various classical ensembles, and other freelance opportunities in the Tucson area. Some of his most notable achievements in the musical theatre world include being the drum set player on the collegiate premiere of “SOMETHING ROTTEN!” at Shenandoah Conservatory under the baton of Patrick Brady as well as working at Shenandoah Summer Music Theater as the percussionist in the pit orchestra for “Ragtime”, “Young Frankenstein”, and “The Sound of Music” under the direction of Dr. Tom Albert, Patrick Brady, and Dr. Karen Keating. Michael has also performed marimba at the Percussive Arts Society in 2023 with Latin Jazz vibraphonist Victor Mendoza, and marimbist Nathan Smith.

In addition to performing, Michael was also the co-host and co-founder of the TAMS Percussion Podcast hosted with his friends and colleagues Alfred “Sky” Fajardo, Taylor Muños and Sui-Lin Tam. This podcast discussed many different aspects of being a musician including how to deal with burnout and keeping a positive mindset in the face of adverse conditions. The show also interviewed a large array of guests with exciting and unique backgrounds including the Principal Percussionist of the Kansas City Symphony Josh Jones, the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi Dr. Ksenija Komljenović, the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Shenandoah Conservatory Dr. Karlyn Viña, and many others. This show is on a hiatus currently but all episodes are available on Spotify and Apple Music.

Michael is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and a member of the Percussive Arts Society. For more biographical information, request a CV at michaeldolesepercussion@gmail.com.