Percussionist / Multi-instrumentalist Michael Blancaflor has been fascinated with sound since he was very young. Originally from Berlin CT, received a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Connecticut at Storrs. His percussion teachers include Rich Baccaro, Peter Tanner, Thom Hannum, Bill Reynolds, Peter Coutsouridis, Rosemary Small, and Alexander Lepak. Michael has performed with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Greenwich Village Orchestra, Astoria Symphony, The INMC Players, and various chamber music ensembles throughout New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

After completing his studies at UConn, Michael moved to New York City and found work as a web producer for the SCI FI Channel. Mr. Blancaflor is currently an active performer and educator in the northeast specializing in concert percussion, marching percussion, drum set, mallet percussion and electronic percussion. He also enjoys singing background vocals in many of his pop/rock projects and singing hits on a fun karaoke night. Current projects include rock/pop bands Special Patrol Group, Verlayne, Shark Fin Soup, 5 Piece Easy, and Erl Shibe 5. Michael is Director of Percussion for the Norwich Free Academy in Norwich CT and Cheshire Public Schools in Cheshire CT where he is Artist-In-Residence. He currently resides in New York City.


Michael is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team and Endorses Vic Virth Sticks and Mallets.

Click Here for AUDIO EXAMPLES of Michael's playing.

Michael's Gear: Drummers World Custom Nesting Drumset 20" Bass Drum 12" Rack Tom 15" Floor Tom Snare Drums 14" Pearl 6.5" Maple Free Floater 14" Pearl 6.5" Steel Free Floater 14" '68 Ludwig Pioneer 14" '67 Ludwig Acrolite 12" Pork Pie Soprano Snare "Little Squealer" 10" Pacific Soprano Snare Cymbals: 21" Bosphorus New Orleans Ride 21" Sabian HH Dry Raw Bell Ride 22" Paiste 2000 Power Ride 20" Sabian HHX Legacy Ride 19" Sabian HHX Prototype Ride 18" Sabian AA El Sabor Crash 16" Sabian AA El Sabor Crash 13" Sabian AA El Sabor Splash 14" Bosphorus Traditional Hi Hats 13" Zildjian K/Z Hi Hats 18"/14" Paiste Trash Set 16" Sabian Springle 16" Sabian HHX 2004 Vault Tour Crash 16" Zildjian Pair - Symphonic French Hand Cymbals 19" Zildjian Pair - Symphonic American Hand Cymbals 10" Wuhan Chinas and Splashes Percussion Instruments: Philippine Kulintang Gong Set Brazilian Pandeiro 6" Alan Abel Triangle 10" Grover Phosphor Bronze Tambourine Black Swamp Castenets Spectresound Mark Tree LP Classic Quinto LP Giovani Compact Conga LP Giovani Compact Bongos LP UDU Drum - Utar LP Mini Timbales 6"/10" Thai Nipple Gongs 6"/8" Factory Metal Percussion Celtic Bell 10" Factory Metal Percussion Cross Crasher 18" Factory Metal Percussion Cross Bender Lincoln Trinidad Ltd. Lead C Steel Pan Deagan 3 Octave Marimba Assorted Percussion Toys and Shakers

Electronics: Roland SPD-S Korg R3 Alternate Mode DrumKat Turbo Alternate Mode MalletKat w/ Sounds Dauz Electronic Drum Pads DDrum Acoustic Drum Triggers Theremin Studio: Apple 13" MacBook 2.16Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Event Tuned Reference 6 Powered Monitors Tascam US-122 Digital Audio Interface Mackie 1402 VLZ-PRO Mixer EMU XBoard 25 Midi Controller Fatar SL-161 Keyboard Controller Crumar Trilogy Analog Synth MOTU Digital Performer 5.13 NI Kontakt Tapspace Virtual Drumline 2 Guitars and Amps: Ibanez Artcore AS-73G Semi-Hollowbody Guitar Danelectro Re-Issue Guitar Fender Precision Deluxe Bass Guitar Takemine Electro-Acoustic Guitar Mele Tenor Concert Ukulele Hartke Bass Head Hartke 2x10 Cabinet Fender 1968 Bandmaster Head 70's Ampeg Head and Cabinet Fender Pro 185 Guitar Amp Microphones: Audix D6 Audix i5 Audix OM-2 Samson S-12 Shure SM-58