Michael Cirmo

Michael J. Cirmo is frequently called upon as a guest conductor for music festivals at all levels throughout New York State. As an instrumental music teacher, Cirmo has taught at all levels from beginner through college. From 1985 to 2001, he taught instrumental music in the Whitesboro, N.Y., Central Schools. From 2001 to 2020, he was the director of Bands at Marcellus High School near Syracuse, N.Y. He has also held long-term positions as adjunct professor at both Hamilton College and Colgate University.

Cirmo holds a master of arts in instrumental performance (percussion) with honors from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor of arts in music education with honors and a performer’s certificate (percussion) from Potsdam College, Crane School of Music. He has studied instrumental conducting with Anthony Maiello and was a seminar student with Craig Kirchoff at the University of Minnesota. He studied percussion with Michael Bookspan and Donald Liuzzi of the Philadelphia Orchestra and James Ross of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

An active percussionist in the Central New York area, Cirmo performs regularly with the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra, Symphoria, Skaneateles Festival, Catskill Symphony as well as the Hamilton College and Colgate University Orchestras. In 1988 he was the principal percussionist / assistant Principal timpanist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Appointed to the Faculty

Educational Background

M.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania
B.M.E., Crane School of Music, State University of New York, Potsdam College