2022 Adjudicators

Michelle Colton

PERCUSSION

Dr. Michelle Colton is a versatile percussionist who has performed throughout North America, Asia, Europe, and Central America. She has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, Oregano Percussion, and also with NEXUS, Keiko Abe, and Evelyn Glennie. She recently premiered “The Stars Are Not Aligned” percussion concerto by Kevin Lau with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Her solo album is titled Unpredictable Nature, and she can also be heard on the JUNO Award-winning album, Detach.

She earned her Doctorate and Master of Music degrees from the University of Toronto and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa. She has directed steel pan ensembles at the University of Toronto, Royal Conservatory, and the Toronto District School Board. She has been guest faculty with Birch Creek, Prairie Music Residency, and the Iowa Ambassadors of Music European tours. Dr. Colton directs the University of Toronto Percussion Preparatory Department and serves as the Ontario Percussive Arts Society President. She is an artist/endorser of Pearl/Adams and Dream Cymbals. www.michellecolton.com