Michael Weinfield-Zell is a Boston-based classical and contemporary percussionist, in demand both nationally and internationally. As a featured soloist Michael has been invited to perform in Beijing at the Central Conservatory of Music as well as the Korean Broadcasting Station in Seoul, in addition to the Kennedy Center, the Naumberg Bandshell in New York’s Central Park, and the Pérez Art Museum in Miami. Notable collaborations include So Percussion, Ensemble ACJW (Juilliard/Carnegie Hall), the electronic music duo Matmos, conductors Simon Rattle and David Robertson, and major symphonic ensembles such as the Kansas City Symphony and Grand Teton Music Festival. He has held appointed positions with the Florida Grand Opera as well as the Honolulu and Annapolis Symphonies.
Dr. Weinfield-Zell regularly performs with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Callithumpian Consort, Portland Symphony, Orchestra of Emmanuel Music, Back Bay Chorale, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, the Atlantic Symphony, and many others in prominent venues all over the city such as Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and Sanders Theatre. He recently completed a doctorate in performance from Boston University, and has degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and Yale School of Music where his primary teacher was Robert van Sice.
As a teaching artist Dr. Weinfield-Zell has received numerous invitations to give masterclasses at prestigious music schools and universities across the country including the Peabody Conservatory, Bard College Conservatory of Music, the Lamont School of Music at University of Denver, Kansas University, and University of Massachusetts Amherst where he has been a frequent guest. Currently he coordinates percussion activities for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, one of the largest and most comprehensive youth orchestra programs in the country with over 500 young musicians. Dr. Weinfield-Zell is also on faculty at Powers Music School and Community Music Center of Boston where he teaches applied classical percussion and drum set.
In addition to his work as a performing and teaching artist, Michael also co-directs the Music at the Substation chamber series with his wife, oboist Catherine Weinfield-Zell. In collaboration with local establishment Turtle Swamp Brewing, this monthly concert series presents acclaimed ensembles from the classical, jazz, world, and pop genres. The series has persevered despite the pandemic by converting to live-streamed events in which the Weinfield-Zells produced and performed seven complete programs between April and September of 2020, all of their own arrangements for their unique instrument combination. Before starting his own series, Dr. Weinfield-Zell was the Audience Development Officer with Guerilla Opera. Concurrent to pursuing a doctorate, he completed a certificate in Arts Administration from Boston University.
Dr. Weinfield-Zell’s musical interests and activities extend far beyond the traditional concert hall. He completed two successful stagings as co-musical director of David Lang’s the little match girl passion at major art institutions in Miami and New York. Michael was awarded the inaugural WaveMaker grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation to present Mauricio Kagel’s Dressur, a 30-minute staged work for three actor-percussionists. As a soloist, he champions the music of Iannis Xenakis, having performed his percussion works at festivals in Austin, Indianapolis, New York, and Beijing. Future endeavors focus on recording projects, with releases of music by Steve Mackey, Mathew Rosenblum, Eric Nathan, and Norman Dello Joio with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and an album of music for flute and marimba with Linda Bento-Rei.
Outside of music, Michael is an experienced long-distance runner, paper book reader, and social media avoider. He lives in Roslindale with his wife, oboist Catherine Weinfield-Zell, their daughter Rose, and their cat, Igor “Iggy” Stravinsky.