Michael Werner
Seattle Symphony - United States
Overview
Michael Werner is the principal percussionist of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Before joining the SSO in 2009, Michael was a percussionist in the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, where he performed with the Met Chamber Ensemble, was a member of the Met Orchestra Percussion Ensemble, and with whom he toured North America, Europe, and Japan. Michael kicked off his professional career at the age of 16 with a 2- year stint as the drummer for the Tim Rodgers’ Western Union Swing Band in Pittsburgh. He won his first major orchestral position as Principal Percussionist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1992. In addition, Michael has been a member of the Canton Ohio Symphony, the Pennfield Symphony in Rochester NY, and has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Erie Philharmonic. He has recorded with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Summit Brass.
Mr. Werner is an active clinician, coaching at the New World Symphony, The Oberlin Percussion Institute, CIM, University of Toronto and the Manhattan School of Music. He’s been a Mannes faculty member since 2001, and recently joined the faculty at the Music Academy of the West. As a student, Michael spent three years at the Eastman School of music where he was awarded the George Eastman and Marshall Seeman Scholarships. During a year of study at the Cleveland Institute of Music he won the 1993 Musician of the Year Bruce Collie Memorial Award. Michael participated in the National Repertory Orchestra, the Aspen Music Festival and is a Santa Barbara Music Academy alumni, 1990. Michael is a performing artist and clinician for Pearl Drums/Adams Musical Instruments and Zildjian cymbals.