Gray School of Music, Percussion Faculty, Teacher

Michael Plotkin Originally from upstate New York, Michael received his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in 2001. While there, he won the school’s annual concerto competition, performing Darius Milhaud’s Concerto pour Batterie et Petite Orchestre with the Vanderbilt Orchestra in 2001. In 2003, Michael received his Masters of Music degree in percussion from Southern Methodist University. An active freelancer and teacher in Dallas, TX, Michael performs with groups such as the East Texas and Los Colinas Symphonies, Dallas Wind Symphony, Lyric Stage, WaterTower Theatre, and Garland Summer Musicals. Internationally, Michael has performed with the Lyrique en Mer Opera Festival in France, and with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Since 2008, Michael has been the resident percussionist at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. Locally, Michael can be seen performing with the quartet Swing Therapy, and the nearly 20 piece Fox-Trot orchestra The Singapore Slingers.