Having performed in four continents and more than forty states, Michael Burritt is one of his generation's most accomplished percussionists. He is in frequent demand performing concert tours and master classes throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. Mr. Burritt has been soloist with the United States Air Force Band, Dallas Wind Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Nexus, The Paris Percussion Group (France), The Amadinda Percussion Group (Hungary), Third Coast Percussion, Ju Percussion Group (Taiwan), Percussion Art Quartet (Germany) and the Amores Percussion Group (Spain). Mr. Burritt has three solo as well as numerous chamber recordings including his work Home Trilogy, with the world renown percussion group Nexus and is soon to release a new recording of solo and chamber works by Alejandro Viñao with the Grammy Award winning Third Coast Percussion. In 2006 he recorded the Joseph Schwantner Percussion Concerto with the Calgary Wind Ensemble on the Albany label. Burritt recently premiered Fast Forward, a new chamber concerto written expressly for him by Pulitzer Prize winning Composer Joseph Schwantner in celebration of the centennial of the Eastman School.
He has been a featured artist at ten Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. Mr. Burritt has performed solo concerts in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, The Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and National Performing Arts Center in Beijing and The Kennedy Center. He has extensive chamber and orchestral experience and has performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, The Chicago Symphony and The Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra.
Mr. Burritt is also active as a composer, with three concertos to his credit as well as numerous solo and chamber works for marimba and percussion. His works for solo marimba have become standard repertoire for the instrument and are frequently required repertoire on international competitions. Commissions include The World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart Germany, The Paris International Marimba Competition, Nexus and Paris Percussion Group. Zildjian recently commissioned Burritt to compose a work in celebration of the company’s 400th Anniversary in 2023 to be premiered by Third Coast Percussion at PASIC 23. Mr. Burritt is published with Keyboard Percussion Publications, C. Alan, Masters Music and Innovative Percussion. Burritt is also an artist/clinician and product design/consultant for Malletech, where he has developed his own line of marimba mallets and the MJB Signature Marimba. He is an artist/educational clinician with Zildjian, Evans, and Yamaha Drums. Mr. Burritt was the President of Percussive Arts Society from 2021-22, a member of the Board of Directors from 1996 - 2008, a contributing editor for Percussive Notes Magazine from 1991 - 2006 and chair of the Keyboard Committee from 2004 – 2010.
Burritt currently holds the Paul J. Burgett Distinguished Professorship and is Professor of Percussion at The Eastman School of Music where he is only the third person in the history of the school to hold this position. Prior to his appointment at Eastman, Mr. Burritt was Professor of Percussion at Northwestern University from 1995-2008 where he developed a program of international distinction. Mr. Burritt received his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees, as well as the prestigious Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.
About his new work for Third Coast Percussion, Burritt writes:
“Since Time Began was commissioned for the celebration of the Zildjian 400 Anniversary in 2023. The vision for this project was to create a 30-minute percussion quartet in 4 movements, with each of the movements representing 100 years in history of the iconic company.
“After a ceremonial introduction, the first movement, Alchemy (1623), begins with a solo marimba line representing Avedis Zildjian, the founder and first to make cymbals for the Sultan in 1618. A second marimba voice joins, played in pseudo counterpoint and representing the son, Ahkam, the first to succeed Avedis and share in the secret process. Thus the story begins! The movement reflects the baroque period with its polyphonic texture and driving dance-like climax. The title Alchemy refers to the genesis (coming together of the company) and the medieval reference to the chemistry of mixing metals to create gold.
“Movement 2, Campana - (Bells) (1723), represents the classical period with its pseudo rondo form. The movement also introduces the amadinda pipe rack, employed throughout the piece, as a nod to the sounds of church bells that were made by Zildjian in their early history. The rudimental drumming that characterizes the movement, played both on metal and membraned sounds, represents Zildjian’s role in making instruments for the Janissary music (Turkish Military music) of the period.
“Homage, movement 3 (1823), reflects on the romantic period incorporating the Turkish folk song, Agla garip agla (Weep, Sad One, Weep), which is vocally rendered by the ensemble. A haunting and contemplative movement, it slowly builds to one distinct climax, a characteristic of many works from this period in music history.
“The final movement, Revolutions (1923), represents the last 100 years, where the evolution of Jazz, Popular and Contemporary Classical music shared a symbiotic relationship with the development and influence of Zildjian Cymbals on these genres. The movement reflects these styles using a gritty and driving rhythmic language and modal melodic platform reminiscent of Bebop, Boulez, Bartok and Zappa.
“A special thanks to Zildjian for giving me the opportunity to write this work for this monumental occasion. I can’t think of another company that has consistently led with innovation and excellence while always putting artistry at the forefront of their mission. Congratulations! Here’s to the next 400 years!!!
“Additional thanks to Third Coast Percussion for taking on this project. Working with you on this piece has been one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences of my career. When your students become your heroes, you know you’re doing something right.”
Duration: 35 minutes