Michael Markus

Teaches at New York Jazz Workshop

Michael Markus has spent over twenty years performing, teaching and studying West African, Afro-Cuban, and American styles of drumming. Along with a BFA in percussion, he has mentored with accomplished master indigenous artists and travels often to Guinea to learn more.

Michael is a visionary and charismatic teacher of drum and dance workshops throughout the United States and Canada. Michael has co-produced and released a CD of his previous group, Magbana, as well as a series of 11 educational percussion CDs, plus a DVD of master drummers from Guinea. As a world music clinician, he has presented at versatile venues ranging from college music and dance departments to inner city community centers. He has regularly developed and conducted workshops for National and International Percussion Conventions, master classes at various Universities, public and private schools all United States, Canada, and Mexico. He has also created commissioned pieces, composing and directing choreography for such groups as Ethos Percussion, which debuted his work at the Symphony Space in New York City.

Michael is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of cultural arts and socioeconomic development in Guinea, West Africa where he has based the production end of this company, Wula Drum, where authentically elegant and professional sounding African drums are crafted.