Michael Thomas - Marimbast
Michael began his path as a percussionist after being inspired by a television broadcast of a live rock band when he was five years old. He remembers gathering various pots, pans, and buckets together to build a makeshift drum set with which he tortured his family’s ears. He got his first snare drum in fourth grade band and faked his way through the music until he started studying snare drum, drum set, timpani, and vibraphone with percussionist William Cahn through middle and high school.
He auditioned and was accepted into the Temple University percussion program though shifted away from a percussion focus setting his sights on an internship with Theodore Presser Company and the music publishing industry. He changed his major to music theory where he spent most of his time on piano and choral work. He was awarded a full-time position at Theodore Presser Company after graduating from Temple with his B.S. in Music. Michael slowly grew tired of city life and decided to move back to his stomping grounds of south central PA to be closer to his family.
Shortly after moving into his house in northeastern York County, He decided to dive back into the world of percussion. He continued his studies on marimba and percussion with Dave Hershey, principal percussion of the York Symphony Orchestra and former student of Leigh Howard Stevens. Through his studies with Dave, he discovered a deep and renewed passion for marimba and percussion.
Michael is now co-principal percussion with Hanover Symphony Orchestra, a percussion sub with York Symphony Orchestra, percussionist with the Spring Garden Band of York, and percussion advisor for York Youth Symphony Orchestra. He performs regularly on solo classical marimba, as well as various other gigs including musicals, church gigs, jazz trio work and anything else that comes his way.
He teaches privately in his percussion studio at JW Music in Carlisle PA where he offers lessons on drum set, snare drum, marimba, timpani, as well as other concert/orchestral percussion. Michael also teaches, writes, and co-directs Northern York High School percussion program through the marching band, indoor percussion ensemble, and concert percussion.
When he is not immersed in percussion, he enjoys spending time with his wife Maryanne, hiking, biking, camping, frisbee golf, and spending time with family and friends
He auditioned and was accepted into the Temple University percussion program though shifted away from a percussion focus setting his sights on an internship with Theodore Presser Company and the music publishing industry. He changed his major to music theory where he spent most of his time on piano and choral work. He was awarded a full-time position at Theodore Presser Company after graduating from Temple with his B.S. in Music. Michael slowly grew tired of city life and decided to move back to his stomping grounds of south central PA to be closer to his family.
Shortly after moving into his house in northeastern York County, He decided to dive back into the world of percussion. He continued his studies on marimba and percussion with Dave Hershey, principal percussion of the York Symphony Orchestra and former student of Leigh Howard Stevens. Through his studies with Dave, he discovered a deep and renewed passion for marimba and percussion.
Michael is now co-principal percussion with Hanover Symphony Orchestra, a percussion sub with York Symphony Orchestra, percussionist with the Spring Garden Band of York, and percussion advisor for York Youth Symphony Orchestra. He performs regularly on solo classical marimba, as well as various other gigs including musicals, church gigs, jazz trio work and anything else that comes his way.
He teaches privately in his percussion studio at JW Music in Carlisle PA where he offers lessons on drum set, snare drum, marimba, timpani, as well as other concert/orchestral percussion. Michael also teaches, writes, and co-directs Northern York High School percussion program through the marching band, indoor percussion ensemble, and concert percussion.
When he is not immersed in percussion, he enjoys spending time with his wife Maryanne, hiking, biking, camping, frisbee golf, and spending time with family and friends