Michael Canipe, a native of North Carolina, has been active as a professional musician and educator on Long Island and the New York City area for over thirty-five years.  He is the founder and conductor of the Queens Festival Band and the conductor of the Gemini Concert Winds.  He has served as Music Director and brass coach for the Gemini Youth Orchestras.  At present he is the orchestra manager and educational coordinator for the Long Island Masterworks as well as the bass trombonist.  He plays principal euphonium with the Concert Pops of Long Island and with the Gramercy Brass and trombone in the New York Virtuosi and the New York Brass Ensemble.  He continues his work as a free lance musician throughout the New York area.

Mr. Canipe has collaborated with both the Orlando Ballet and the Circle of Dance Company as orchestra arranger and conductor.  He was bass trombonist for the Long Island Symphony as well as the Symphony of Long Island where he served as orchestra personnel manager and educational consultant.  He also plays with the Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra.  He has conducted All-County ensembles throughout Long Island and guest-conducted the Stonybrook University Chorus and Orchestra.  He was bass trombonist with the Cape May Orchestra as well as the Outreach Chairman and Director of the Chamber Ensembles.  Mr. Canipe is a graduate of East Carolina University and began his professional career with the North Carolina Symphony.  While pursuing a master's degree in trombone performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he studied conducting with James Levine.