MEET THE ORCHESTRA

Michael W. Bull is currently Principal Percussion of Symphoria and until the fall of 2012 served as General Manager of the orchestra. He is also a member of the Binghamton Philharmonic Percussion Ensemble and on occasion performs with the orchestra in the percussion section. Mr. Bull was formerly Principal Percussion of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra where he had been a member since 1979. Although widely trained in all aspects of percussion, he has developed his reputation as the cymbal specialist in the orchestra. He was also a member of the Syracuse Symphony’s popular Percussion Ensemble. Michael is an active soloist/clinician and is a freelance percussionist/timpanist for local and touring groups that perform in the Central New York Area. Michael graduated magna cum laude with degrees in Percussion Performance/Music Education and also holds a Masters degree in Percussion Performance from Syracuse University. He has been on the Syracuse University Setnor School of Music faculty since 1977 where he is currently the Head of Percussion, Director of the SU Percussion Ensemble and The Syracuse University Ancient Fife & Drum Corps. Michael is an Artist Representative for SABIAN Cymbals, Mike Balter Mallets and the Cooperman Fife & Drum Company, which markets his signature concert snare drum sticks.

Michael and his wife, Deborah Cunningham, frequent keyboardist with the orchestra and a music teacher at Jamesville-DeWitt Middle School, live in Pompey, NY with their dogs Stanley & Sydney. Deborah is also the organist for Christ Church in Manlius and Michael can often be heard there playing his timpani. When not on stage you can usually find Michael out hunting, fishing, or riding one of his custom motorcycles on the roads of CNY.