Michael Galisatus

Michael Galisatus is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the College of San Mateo, directing both the college big bands and the wind ensemble. Prior to his appointment at the College of San Mateo, Mr. Galisatus produced award winning ensembles at various San Francisco Peninsula schools including Aragon, El Camino, and South San Francisco High Schools, and directed jazz ensembles at San Francisco State University and The College of Notre Dame.

Mr. Galisatus is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the western United States, including organizations such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Stanford Jazz Workshop, California Alliance for Jazz, and a host of others. In addition, Mr. Galisatus has presented workshops abroad, including Japan, China, Norway, Mexico, and Canada.

He has been the recipient of various teaching honors including the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Jazz Educator of the year, The CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Jazz Educator Award, The Peninsula Arts Council Arts Educator of the Year, the Otter Distributors 2004 Jazz Educator Award for the state of California, the California PTA Honorary Service Award, and the CMEA Bay Section Gil Freitas Memorial Award for music education.

As a freelance trumpeter in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael has studied under William Adam (Indiana University), John Coppola (Stan Kenton, Woody Herman), Joe Alessi (SFSU), and Chris Bogios (SF Symphony). Mr. Galisatus has recorded with Pete Escovedo, and Queen Ida, and has performed with a variety of artists including Tito Puente, Sheila E., Louis Bellson, Kenny Washington, Paula West, Natalie Cole, Johnny Mathis, Michael Feinstein, Mel Tormé, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, and many others.