Michelle Purdy

Michelle Purdy serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Music within Towson University's College of Fine Arts and Communication. She maintains concurrent teaching appointments at Carroll Community College, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's Orchkids inner-city outreach program, and is an active member of the High Zero Collective experimental improvisation organization.

Her academic foundation includes:

• B.A. in Percussion Performance from UMBC under Tom Goldstein
• Master's degree from SUNY Buffalo studying with Tom Kolor of Talujon Percussion Quartet

Purdy is a dedicated contemporary percussionist specializing in new and experimental music, with research interests spanning interdisciplinary collaborations between music and visual arts, dance, and sculpture. Her creative practice emphasizes community engagement through Baltimore-based artistic partnerships and educational outreach initiatives.

Her performance career features appearances at major festivals including Baltimore's Artscape, So Percussion's Summer Institute, June in Buffalo, High Zero Festival, and Center for Advanced Musical Studies at Chosen Vale. She has collaborated with ensembles such as Talujon Percussion Quartet, Wooden Cities Contemporary Ensemble, and Microkingdom.

Recognition includes:

• Linehan Artist Scholar Award during undergraduate studies at UMBC

No verifiable information exists regarding graduate student advising or research grant acquisition. Purdy's professional activities center on ensemble performance and community-based music education through multiple artistic collectives.

She performs with Umbilicus percussion quartet, The Inverse Square Trio (science/music fusion ensemble), Sonic Meditations Baltimore, Envirodrum Maryland (arts-in-education collective), and The Columbia Orchestra, demonstrating sustained engagement with Baltimore's experimental music ecosystem.