Michael Palermo

 Bio

Michael Palermo
Band Director for Mayfield City Schools

Mr. Michael Palermo is a native of Jamestown, New York, and a Class of 1989 Graduate of Jamestown High School. He is also a 1993 Graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he earned a degree in Music Education and Performance. He also received a master’s degree from Cleveland State University in 1998. Finally, he was very fortunate in the Spring of 2007 to be inducted into the Edinboro University “Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame”.

His performing attributes and clinical workshops include the following artists: Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette, David Sanborn, Christopher Holliday, Phil Woods, Allen Vizzutti, Denis DiBlasio, Ray Brown, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Kashiwa, Dominic Spera, John Fedchock, and Dave Samuels. Mr. Palermo has also traveled extensively across the United States doing guest artist appearances, jazz/concert band workshops, and performance venues. He has worked in such countries as Belgium, The Netherlands, Canada, and France, performing and teaching with the International Bands of America.
In 1997, he released his debut record entitled Miles Above All, which was played on several college radio stations along with local Cleveland Jazz Networks. In the summer of 2003, Mr. Palermo was invited to the “Essentially Ellington” Jazz Academy in New York, sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center under the Direction of Wynton Marsalis. It was there that he got to perform and study under Temple University Jazz Director Terrell Stafford and Julliard School of Music Professor Loren Schoenberg. In 2006, his second solo release, Don’t Look Back, earned him strong accreditation from Jazz Review.com and made him a household name. The hit track Dreaming was on the top of the charts in Europe and Asia for over 12 weeks and really had an impact on the sales of this album.

If that isn’t enough, his first publication, “Warm-Ups, Scales, Patterns, and Licks” has been published through Really Good Music Publications. Mr. Palermo is currently a Band Director for the Mayfield City School District in Mayfield, Ohio. He was a member of the International Association for Jazz Education. Mr. Palermo is currently involved with several school districts promoting and evaluating Jazz Education and makes several guest appearances each year. He travels across the United States doing performances, master classes, clinics, etc. The following companies, Conn-Selmer Instruments, Oleg Ligatures and Beechler Mouthpieces, endorse him. In February 2010, the release of “Passions and Dreams” took airways by storm and the hit release “Lovin’ You” became a smooth jazz favorite across the USA and Asia.

On November 24, 2012, After Hours hit stores and the Internet. This 4th solo release by Michael and has been a hit. The debut track Calypso Fiesta has hit Airwaves, the Internet, Pandora, and satellite radio. Finally, Mr. Palermo was offered an opportunity to interview at the prestigious Julliard School of Music in New York City to become the Artistic Director of Jazz Studies, but because of his passion for education in Ohio and desire to work with young students, he has decided to stay right where he is.

Most recently Mr. Palermo had an article published in the National Association for Music Education on incorporating students with special needs in a band program. It has gained national accreditation. In 2023, Mr. Palermo published a book for all jazz ensemble directors, and in its first month of sales, it reached over 1500 directors. Mr. Palermo has taught all over the world, and 100’s of master classes across the country, but his favorite place for gigs and life is in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife of 25 years, Pastor Tammy W. Palermo, and children Eliana and Evan.

Discography
Miles Above
Don’t Look Back
Passions and Dreams
After Hours
Visions (2016)