Michael Lariccio Jr., tubist, is a native of Long Island, NY.  He first discovered his love of music at a very young age and began studying the piano in the third grade and tuba in the fourth grade.  Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a Performance Certificate at The Pennsylvania State University.  He obtained a Master of Music in Tuba Performance & Literature and was selected to be a part of the Arts Leadership Program in the distinguished program at Eastman School of Music where he had the privilege of being awarded a graduate Teaching Assistantship.  Michael’s experiences at Eastman included interning with the Advancement & Alumni Relations as well as the Institute for Music Leadership, two critical departments within the school.  Michael’s teaching experiences have allowed him to work with students of all ages from elementary school to college.  Michael currently has obtained and is certified to teach in the states of Pennsylvania and New York.

Michael has had the privilege of studying tuba primarily with Velvet Brown, Don Harry, Alan Baer, and Scott Mendoker.  He has participated in master classes with such artists as Tim Buzbee, Alan Baer and Dennis Nulty.  In an orchestral setting, Michael has performed with the Long Island Pops Orchestra, North Shore Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Symphony Orchestra, Altoona Symphony, Hartt Symphony Orchestra, Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra, C.W. Post Orchestra, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the 2005 NYSSSA Orchestra Studies Program in Saratoga where he studied and rehearsed with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  In a Wind Ensemble setting, Michael has performed with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Hartt Wind Ensemble and Penn State Wind Ensemble.   

Michael is currently a doctoral candidate and is pursuing a Doctoral of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance & Literature with a minor in Music History at the Hartt School of Music of the University of Hartford on full scholarship.  At the Hartt School of Music, Michael is part of the honors chamber program, Performance 20/20 where he performs with the brass quintet.  Most recently, Michael recorded Stephen Michael Gryc’s Concerto for Winds and Percussion with the Hartt Wind Ensemble.  In addition, he was also involved with the recording of Joseph Turrin’s piece for Brass Quintet and Susan Botti’s Terra Cruda, which is scheduled for release on the Hartt School Wind Ensemble’s third Naxos CD.  Upon graduation, Michael will pursue a career in music, including teaching, performing professionally in a symphony orchestra and quintet, arranging and recording new music.  Community education and outreach has always been a passion that Michael has had and he hopes to help develop and nurture that passion for music with those he encounters.