michael b vercelli
biography
Dr. Michael B. Vercelli is the director of the World Music Performance Center at West Virginia University. Michael holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance with a minor in Ethnomusicology from the University of Arizona. While well versed in the classical percussion repertoire, Michael’s specialty lies in non-Western instruments. He has studied the traditional music of other countries and done fieldwork in Bali, Cuba, Brazil, Uganda, and primarily, Ghana.
Dr. Vercelli has received many awards for both his performance and study of indigenous music such as being named a Fulbright Alternate and recipient of numerous grants including the prestigious Northern Trust/ Piper Enrichment Scholarship. “Project Ghana,” first organized and facilitated by Dr. Vercelli in the summer of 2006, is an annual study abroad course focusing on music, dance and cultural emersion.
Dr. Vercelli is a contributing author to the World Percussion chapter in the third edition of Gary Cook’s Teaching Percussion. He is a participating member in the Society for Ethnomusicology and Percussive Arts Society where he serves on the World Percussion Committee. Michael has given lectures, performances and workshops, across the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and China and is a founding member of the Zumbumba Percussion Trio, and is an Encore Mallets endorser.