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Michael Ounallah is a dedicated musician teaching private lessons online and in the Washington, D.C. area.
University of Maryland
Master of Music
Jazz Performance
University of North Carolina
Bachelor of Music
Jazz Performance
Michael Ounallah
Piano, Marimba, Xylophone, Drum, Conga, Djembe

Mike Ounallah comes from a varied and vast array of musical experiences. He has been playing percussion for twenty years, drums for fifteen, piano for ten, and banjo for three. He has a Bachelor's of Music in Jazz Studies from UNC Wilmington and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Maryland. During his time in school, Mike performed in a number of different groups. He has played piano, drums, and percussion in situations as varied as Orchestra, Big-band, African Drum Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Combo Jazz Groups, Gamelan Orchestra, Afro-Cuban Ensembles, and Mallet Ensembles. He also performed in freelance rock, jazz, jam, and improvisational groups.

Since graduating, he has toured the country and abroad in several working groups that have played large festivals, clubs, venues, and most notably the Presidential Luncheon. It is this experience, that gives Mike an edge and understanding of what it takes to not only succeed in an academic setting but also in a 'real world' situation.

Studying under great teachers himself, has given Mike the tools to design lesson plans specific to the student. Being a teacher of close to twenty years of all ages, he understands what it takes to make lessons fun, engaging, and all around great musical experience's that keep his students motivated and excited to get better on their instrument.

During school Mike played in numerous jazz and orchestral groups as a freelance musician including, Wilmington (NC) Orchestra, Raleigh (NC) African Drum Troupe, UMD 5:30 Big Band (1st Chair Drummer), UMD Chamber Ensemble, Small Combo Groups. He's spent some time doing theater work as well performing as a Pit Musician and On-Stage in Theater Works: Pumps Boys and Dinettes, Anything Goes, Oklahoma, Gypsy, West Side Story

Mike has also had a varied career as a performer in numerous local rock and jazz outfits such as Bellflur, Blackout District, No Second Troy, Yamamonem Jazz Band as well as performer in acclaimed Celtic/ World Music group Scythian (over 1200 shows). This group traveled the world including Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Some of the standout venues have included performing regionally/ nationally with major headlining spots at festivals/ venues including locally the Kennedy Center, Strathmore, 9:30 Club, The Birchmere, and The Presidential Luncheon (George W. Bush) on St. Patrick's Day. The band recently recorded an album with Grammy Award winners Jim Lauderdale and Jeff Mosier. He also conducted a number of workshops and master classes during this tenure. Mike is also the bandleader and composer for DC genre busting group Black Masala.

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