Michael Corts
Percussion Conductor
Michael Corts is a pianist and percussionist based in Oklahoma City. He joined the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra in 2023 and currently serves as Percussion Conductor, working with students across orchestral and ensemble settings. As a percussionist, he has performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Oklahoma Chamber Symphony, Oklahoma Symphonic Band, North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, and the National Music Festival Orchestra, with which he performed for four seasons.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Wind Ensemble at Oklahoma City University and with the Symphony Orchestra at Appalachian State University, and has appeared extensively in university settings including music theater productions, choirs, orchestras, and percussion ensembles.
In addition to his performing work, Michael is active as a clinician, adjudicator, and private instructor, having taught and presented in both Oklahoma and North Carolina, and he maintains a private percussion studio. Alongside his percussion career, he is a staff pianist and Music Director of OPERAtions at Oklahoma City University Wanda L. Bass School of Music and serves as Service Pianist at Wesley United Methodist Church, collaborating regularly with vocalists and instrumentalists in a wide range of settings.
He is the founder and former director of the OCU Blue Star Steel Band.Michael holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Oklahoma City University and a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Appalachian State University. Originally from Garner, North Carolina, he continues to perform actively as both a pianist and percussionist. Outside of music, he lives with his cat, Mango.