Michael Minarcek, D.M.A
Jazz Drummer | Percussionist | Educator
937-266-9855
Professional Profile
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Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance and Literature with more than twenty years of experience as a performer, educator, and scholar. Experienced collegiate instructor with expertise in applied percussion, drum set, ensemble leadership, curriculum development, and student mentorship. Active jazz drummer and percussionist whose creative and scholarly work includes peer-reviewed presentations on jazz pedagogy, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the commissioning and performance of new repertoire. Committed to fostering artistic excellence, inclusive learning environments, and preparing students for successful careers as performers, educators, and creative musicians.
Education
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign-Urbana, IL
Doctor of Musical Arts: Percussion Performance and Literature
Doctoral Thesis: Solo Percussion in Chamber Music: A Performance
Guide to Select Compositions by Chardon, Kechley, Klatzow, and Noda
Principal teachers: William Moersch and Ricardo Flores
Cognate: Music Theory
Selected graduate coursework included twentieth-century analysis, Baroque counterpoint, and sonification.
Honors: Finalist, Krannert Debut Artist Competition (2017), Varese Award (2016).
Wright State University
Dayton, OH
Master of Music: Percussion Performance
Major Concentration: Orchestral performance and marimba
literature.
Principal teachers: Gerald Noble, III.
Wright State University
Dayton, OH
Bachelor of Music: Percussion Performance
Active performer with Wind Symphony, Chamber Players, and Jazz Band.
Principal teachers: David M. Booth and Jane Varella
Honors: Clark Haines Award for Most Outstanding Musician in
Wind Symphony (2002), Most Valuable Member Award, Wright
State University Jazz Band (1999 and 1998)
Collegiate Teaching and Ensemble Leadership Experience
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Adjunct Instructor of Drum Set
Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH
August 2026 – Present
Teach applied drum set lessons to undergraduate music majors and non-majors, emphasizing jazz performance, technique, stylistic versatility, improvisation, and professional musicianship.
Mentor students in artistic development, practice strategies, recital preparation, and career planning.
Recruit prospective students through outreach, individual lessons, clinics, auditions, and collaboration with regional music educators.
Evaluate student progress through juries, performance assessments, and individualized instruction aligned with departmental learning outcomes.
Collaborate with music faculty to support student success, departmental performances, and recruitment initiatives.
Advise students on repertoire selection, ensemble participation, and professional development opportunities.
Adjunct Instructor of Percussion
Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH
February 2022 – Present
Teach applied percussion and drum set lessons to music majors and non-majors, emphasizing technical development, stylistic versatility, musicianship, and performance preparation.
Mentor students in practice strategies, recital and jury preparation, transfer auditions, and professional development.
Recruit prospective students through outreach, private lessons, clinics, and collaboration with regional music educators and community partners.
Assess student progress through individualized instruction and performance evaluations aligned with departmental learning outcomes.
Collaborate with music faculty to support ensemble performances, student success initiatives, and departmental recruitment efforts.
Advise students on repertoire selection, ensemble participation, and pathways to four-year music degree programs.
Coach students in jazz drum set performance, improvisation, reading, and stylistic interpretation across contemporary and traditional genres.
Prepare students for auditions, juries, recitals, and transfer to bachelor's and graduate music programs.
Foster an inclusive, student-centered learning environment that encourages artistic growth, collaboration, and lifelong engagement with music.
Adjunct Professor of Percussion
Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, IL
August 2016 – May 2020
Taught applied percussion and drum set lessons to undergraduate music majors and non-majors, emphasizing technical proficiency, stylistic versatility, musicianship, and artistic development.
Directed the Illinois Wesleyan Percussion Ensemble, programming rehearsals and performances while fostering collaborative ensemble skills and musical leadership.
Designed and taught Percussion Techniques, a curriculum for future music educators emphasizing pedagogical best practices, performance fundamentals, and classroom application.
Mentored undergraduate students in recital preparation, juries, auditions, graduate school applications, and professional development.
Recruited prospective percussion students through lessons, clinics, auditions, and outreach in collaboration with faculty and regional music educators.
Collaborated with faculty to support departmental performances, student recruitment, curriculum
initiatives, and artistic programming.
Assessed student learning through individualized instruction, performance evaluations, and juries aligned with departmental learning outcomes.
Percussion Ensemble Coach
University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign | 2016
Coached and conducted the University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble in rehearsals and performance of Gerald Strang's Percussion Music, emphasizing ensemble communication and musical interpretation.
Percussion Methods Instructor
Wright State University | Dayton, OH
2002–2003
Developed and taught a Percussion Methods course for undergraduate music education majors preparing for careers as band directors.
Designed a performance-based curriculum emphasizing percussion pedagogy, instrument
fundamentals, rehearsal techniques, and concert percussion literature.
Created hands-on assessments that strengthened students' practical teaching skills and classroom readiness.
Mentored future music educators in effective percussion instruction, rehearsal strategies, and classroom application.
Additional Teaching Experience
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Pre-K & K–8 Music Teacher and Academic Tutor
Multicultural Center | Champaign, IL | 2019–2022
Staff Instructor
Austin Community College S.T.E.P.S. | Austin, TX | 2012–2014
Drumline Instructor
Miamisburg High School | Miamisburg, OH | 2000–2001
Front Ensemble Instructor
Bellbrook High School | Bellbrook, OH | 1999–2001
Peer-Reviewed Conference and Event Selections
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Peer-Reviewed Paper Talks
College Music Society 2023 Northeast Conference
Presentation of my Progressive Steps Toward Independence in Afro-Cuban Music for Undergraduate Drum Set Studies. New Haven, CT. March, 2023
College Music Society 2023 Mid-Atlantic Conference
Presentation of my Progressive Steps Toward Independence in Afro-Cuban Music for Undergraduate Drum Set Studies. Largo, Maryland. March, 2023
College Music Society 2023 Southern Conference. Presentation of my Progressive Steps Toward Independence in Afro-Cuban Music for Undergraduate Drum Set Studies. Jacksonville, FL. February, 2023
Midwest Graduate Music Consortium
Paper Presentation - Progressive Steps Toward Independence in Afro-Cuban Music for Undergraduate Drum-set Studies. 2021
Peer-Reviewed Performances
College Music Society 2023 Southern Conference
Performances of Another Chance So Suite by Ralph Lewis, and Overlapping Voices
in a Funeral Home Reception Room, by Dave O’Mahony, as part of the Memorial and Memory in Contemporary Experimental Music and Dance program. Jacksonville, FL. February, 2023
Audio Rocket Festival, Osaka University of Arts
Submission acceptance of Overlapping Voices in a Funeral Home Reception Room, by Dave O’ Mahony. November 19th, 2022
Radiophrenia Glasgow - convenient words/exactly lost - by Bradley Njus and Ralph Lewis, 2022
As if radio COP26 Longform Broadcast Call for Works - convenient words/exactly lost, 2021
Society of Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States National Conference - MoxTube by Ralph Lewis, 2021
Pandemics as a Portal to Change Exhibit at Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center - 2021 MoxTube by Ralph Lewis (May to August 2021)
College Music Society Great Lakes Conference - DuoTube by Ralph Lewis, 2021
College Music Society South Central Conference - MoxTube by Ralph Lewis, 2021
Kyma International Sound Symposium - Another Chance So Suite by Ralph Lewis, 2020
Selected Masterclasses
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Collin Currie
University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign | 2016
Performed Phoenix for solo percussion.James Culley
University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music | 2011
Performed Lift Off with percussion quartet.
Additional Masterclasses and Clinics
Keith Aleo
Kevin Bobo (2010, 2011)
Ayano Kataoka
Gwendolyn Dease
Janis Potter
Leigh Howard Stevens
Percussive Arts Society Ohio Day of Percussion
Ben Johnston Microtonal Weekend
Professional Performance Experience
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Carter Bennett Band – Drummer for a professional live ensemble performing jazz, soul, R&B, funk, pop, and rock for concerts, corporate events, and private engagements under the musical direction of jazz pianist Eric Zadan.
Eric Zadan Quartet – Drummer (2009–Present). Regular performances with one of southwest Ohio's leading jazz ensembles, including appearances with acclaimed jazz vocalist Hilary Kole at Gilly's Jazz Club (2010).
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, drummer for Pops Concert Series, Tony Bennett: The Official Musical Celebration. Dayton, Ohio. 2025
CMS Southern & Great Lakes Conferences,Another Chance So Suite: solo percussionist and dance collaboration with dancers Kayt MacMaster and Abby Williams Chin; Sara Hook, choreography, 2023
Sinclair Community College Chorale Concert, Marimbist, 2023
Red Herring Exhibit Performance, Urbana, IL, selected performer for improvisational solo November 2021 based upon a poem by Ruth S. Walker
Sinfonia da Camera, Section Percussion Extra, 2016-2021
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Section Percussion Extra, 2015-2021
Glenn Wilson Quartet, Normal, IL, percussionist with jazz quartet, performed at historic Normal Theater for a live recreation of soundtrack to the Swedish horror film Hӓxan (1922)
Illinois Theater, Krannert Center for the Arts, Champaign, IL. February 2018 Orchestra Pit Percussionist for Assassins by Stephen Sondheim
I-Pan Steel Band, Champaign, IL. Rhythm section drummer, July 2018
The Schisms, post-punk band, Austin, Texas. Recorded EP and performed in the South by Southwest music festival, 2013
Piqua Civic Band, Piqua, OH. Xylophone Soloist, 2010
Lebanon Symphony, Lebanon, OH. Section Percussion Extra, 2009-2010
Wright State University Faculty Chamber Orchestra, Principal Percussion, 2008-2011
Holland America Cruise Line, Orchestra set drummer. March-August 2007 Multiple nightly performances during tour of Alaska via Seattle, WA
Blue Man Group-Chicago, Chicago, IL. Substitute drummer for loft trio, 2005
Chicago Studio work, jazz trio/quartet performances. 2004-2006 1. Ray Coyle trio, numerous jazz club and art gallery dates; one EP studio recording. 2. Pale Pink, blues group. Performances at several famous Chicago rock clubs including Schuba’s and Double Door. One LP recording
Jazz Arts Productions, Drummer, 2000-2005
Selected Solo and Collaborative Artistic Performances
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Doctor of Musical Arts Final Project – Conceived, organized, and performed a culminating recital based on original research examining major works for solo percussion with chamber ensemble, including music by David Kechley, Teruyuki Noda, Peter Klatzow, and Yves Chardon. Managed the remote recording and coordination of a 17-member chamber ensemble during the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with recording engineer Eric Heidbreder.
University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign – Doctor of Musical Arts Solo Recitals (2016, 2018), featuring diverse solo percussion repertoire spanning contemporary and classical literature.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts – Featured solo marimba recitalist, Uncorked Festival (2017).
Illinois Wesleyan University Symposium of Contemporary Music – Performed as percussionist for featured composer and performer Eve Beglarian (2016).
Commissions
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Michael Giunta-Vibraphone/Marimba Consortium member, 2023
Convenient Words/Exactly Lost - Radio Art work for Percussionist and Car by Bradley Njus 2021 and Ralph Lewis
Occam’s Razor, for Solo Percussion by Selena Ryan , 2021
Another Chance So Suite for percussion and electronics by Ralph Lewis, 2020
A Musical Narrative for Solo Percussion by Mario J. Pelusi, 2019
How Sweet the Thought of You as Infinite for marimba and electronics by Emma O’Halloran, 2019
Wirefell/fewer ill for solo drum set and electronics by Joe Meland, 2017
Four by Four for percussion duo by Andy Pape, 2016
Sferics for vibraphone, seasonal electronics, and video by Thomas Rex Beverly, 2016
Professional Affiliations and Honors
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Innovative Percussion – Collegiate Educator Artist (2017–Present)
D'Addario Education Collective – Member (2016–Present)
College Music Society – Member (2020–Present)
Percussive Arts Society – Member (2002–Present); active member of the Ohio and former Illinois chapters.
Krannert Debut Artist Competition – Finalist (2017)
Varèse Award, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (2016)
Clark Haines Award for Outstanding Musician, Wright State University Wind Symphony (2002)
Most Valuable Member, Wright State University Jazz Band (1998, 1999)
National Guitar Center Drum-Off – Quarterfinalist, Second Place, Cleveland, OH (2004)
Leadership, Recruitment, and Service
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Recruited prospective percussion students through individual lessons, clinics, auditions, and outreach activities.
Developed collaborative relationships with regional music educators and community arts organizations.
Presented educational clinics and masterclasses for percussion students and music educators.
Mentored students pursuing graduate study, professional performance, and careers in music education.
Supported departmental recruitment initiatives and community engagement through performances and educational events.
Professional References
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Ricardo Flores
Associate Professor of Percussion
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 1114 W. Nevada St. Urbana, IL 61801 217-898-4845
Mario J. Pelusi
Director of Music Department (retired)
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
309-556-3075
Eric Zadan
Director of Zadan Jazz Studio and Professional Musician
120 W 2nd St #1600, Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 902-8777
Vinnie Marshall
Professional Musician: Bassist USAF Band of Flight (1983-2007), Eric Zadan Trio, and Carter Bennett Band
Adjunct Professor of Double and Jazz Bass, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435
(937) 657-4771