Michael Abernathy

Michael Abernathy is from the small town of Waxhaw, North Carolina, near Charlotte. He is a versatile percussionist and has been playing since he began in band at age 13. His favorite instrument and first love is the marimba, followed closely by funk and metal drum set. Mr. Abernathy enjoys playing any kind of percussion he can get his hands on, including the tabla. He also plays guitar, bass, and sitar.

Mr. Abernathy previously performed as drummer in Depot Street, a funk-rock band based in Boone, NC. He was instrumental in releasing their 2021 debut album Home, Sweet Home, available on all streaming platforms, which was recorded entirely in his home studio. He contributed five original songs to the album. In 2024, he released solo debut album, a funk-rock album titled To the Wind featuring 13 original songs.

As a music teacher, Mr. Abernathy has been teaching in a breadth of capacities since 2012, primarily teaching individual lessons and working with the percussion sections of marching bands. This includes serving as the Front Ensemble Instructor for the Marching Mountaineers at Appalachian State. He now serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at George Mason University, teaching Aural Skills, and as Front Ensemble Instructor at West Potomac High School.

Mr. Abernathy earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC in 2016, and his Master’s in Percussion Performance at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in 2018. He now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and is currently working on the dissertation for his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in Percussion Performance at George Mason.