Michael Schutz is Professor of Music Cognition/Percussion at McMaster University in Canada where he directs the percussion ensemble and teaches courses on music perception and cognition. He co-founded the Canadian Percussion Network (www.percnet.ca), an organization building bridges between percussion research and performance. Prior to McMaster, Michael spent five years as Director of Percussion Studies at Longwood University where he performed frequently with the Roanoke Symphony and Opera on the James. Michael premiered internationally renowned composer Judith Shatin's trio Time To Burn, and subsequently recorded this piece on a release from Innova Recordings. Solo performances include guest appearances with the Kent State University, University of California, University of Virginia Percussion Ensemble, Ontario and Virginia/DC "Day of Percussion," Project:Percussion. He earned a MM in Percussion from Northwestern where he studied with Michael Burritt, and a BMA in from Penn State.