Raised in Winchester, VA, Michael Dolese has received a Bachelor of Music Education and a performance certificate from Shenandoah Conservatory studying with Prof. Earl Yowell and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from James Madison University studying with Profs. Casey Cangelosi and Aaron Trumbore. In addition to performing all facets of classical percussion, Michael is a member of the JMU Steel Band and has played Lead, Double Tenors, and Bass pans in his 2 years in the ensemble, and frequently takes musical theater gigs with Shenandoah Summer Music Theater and other freelance gigs with the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra and the Shippensburg Summer Music Festival. Michael has also been a producer with the Staunton Music Festival Spring and Summer Festivals. When Michael isn’t performing, he finds time to enjoy the outdoors and relax in nature.