When I am not at Cabrillo Festival, I engage with music this way: I am the clarinetist with eighth blackbird.
Clarinetist and bass clarinetist Michael J. Maccaferri is a current member of the Grammy Award winning new music ensemble eighth blackbird. A native of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Michael studied at the Walnut Hill School, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Nothwestern University. While at Oberlin, Michael co-founded eighth blackbird, one of the leading commissioners and performers of new music today. Since 1996, when the group won the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, eighth blackbird has been widely regarded as one of the foremost proponents and commissioners of contemporary music, collaborating with luminaries such as Steve Reich, Frederic Rzewski, Bruno Mantovani, Aaron Kernis, Stephen Hartke, Jennifer Higdon, Steve Mackey and George Perle. The group’s work has been recognized with numerous awards and prizes including the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, Concert Artist’s Guild Award, ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, and the American Music Center Trailblazer Award. As an educator, Michael has participated in long and short term residencies at universities and conservatories around the world, including the University of Chicago, Oberlin Conservatory, Queensland Conservatorium, Southern Methodist University, Colburn School, and Curtis Institute of Music and is currently on faculty at the University of Richmond. With eighth blackbird Michael has performed as soloist with leading orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Toronto Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony, and at venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Barbican, Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center.