Michael Yonchak, D.M.A. (in progress)

Visiting Assistant Director of Band, Wind, and Percussion Activities
Director of Athletic Bands
Office: Battelle
Phone: 614.823.1808
myonchak@otterbein.edu

A native of Ohio, Michael grew up near Youngstown, and graduated from the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University (with Honors) holding a Bachelor of Music in Education (percussion emphasis) and a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting. He is completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Wind Conducting from the University of Kentucky, where he was actively involved in all aspects of the Kentucky Bands program.

He is also currently in the process of writing his dissertation monograph on the avant-garde compositions of Frank Zappa. In collaboration with the late composer's wife, Gail, this document will become the first of its kind in providing a serious academic study on the structure, techniques, and performance considerations to three separate works for wind ensemble by Zappa. This project served as a catalyst for a recent presentation at the Southern Division of CBDNA on the music of Frank Zappa, as well as a research article financed by a research grant awarded through the National Band Association.

Prior to his time in Kentucky, Michael taught for five and a half years in the public schools of northeast Ohio.

Among his numerous accomplishments, Michael was a two-time national finalist for a conductor/officer commission in the Air Force Bands program, served as the music director and conductor for the inaugural 2006 season of the Buhl Park Community Concert Band of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, acted simultaneously as a performer and percussion caption head for the Allegheny Nightstorm Drum and Bugle Corps (DCA) and has recently been published in the book Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band, Volume 2.

He also holds memberships in the National Band Association, CBDNA, the College Music Society, the Conductors Guild, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (honorary) and Tau Beta Sigma (honorary).