MIKE G.

At age 12 Michael Gasselsdorfer decided he would deliver newspapers in order to buy a drum set. Seven years later he was off to the United States (Seattle) where he practiced his craft in a woodshed converted into drum room.

Upon his return he entered Vanier College of music where he obtained degrees in composition, arranging, as well as performance (drums). He has studied privately with such teachers as Aldo Mazza, Nassyr Abdul Al-Khabbyr, Jacob Kaye. He also attended four Kosa international percussion workshops taking classes with such masters as Horacio Hernandez, Zoro, Adam Nussbaum amongst others.

He has played drums with a wide variety of artists: Kingpins (ska), Lynn Taitt (rocksteady), Lo and the Magnetics (pop), Maia Davies (pop), Arden Arapyan (jazz), Richy Farkas (roots,folk), just to name a few.

This music took him around the world several times playing at festivals such as the Vans Warped Tour, Hornucopia Festival, Toronto International Jazz Festival, Rhythmes du Monde, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. In 2005 Mike had the opportunity to tour china as both a member of Lo and the Magnetics and SASASA, an experience he claims was life changing.

Mike also teaches practice and has taught at several music camps including Camp Rock and the Mickey Mozart Music Tours.

His most recent accomplishments include winning the 10,000$ grand prize of the "Propulsion Jazz" contest, as well as le Grand Prix de Jazz General Motors at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, as part of the Arden Arapyan music ensemble.