Michael Palermo is currently a band director at Mayfield City School District in Mayfield, Ohio. Since he graduated from Edinboro University in 1993 and got his masters from Cleveland State University in 1998, his music career has taken off including many of his own singles and albums, many becoming hits, along with performing with multiple known artists and traveling both across the United States and internationally as well. Palermo said, though, that his music interest began back in elementary school.

“Well, like other students, I got introduced to music by Mr. Lory Ventura from Fletcher Elementary back in the day, and I continued on through school and was a member of the band program all the way until I graduated,” Palermo said. “It was right out of high school that Mr. Ray Pappalardo of Germaine and Pappalardo Music Shoppe, and my musical mentor, came to me to start teaching some saxophone lessons at their store, so I did. I really enjoyed it and decided to audition for music school and become a music education and performance major. I guess between my mom and dad paying for countless lessons, accessories, and everything else, music just became something I wanted to do for a living, but teaching became what I loved the most.”

Palermo credited his father with buying him his first real saxophone, after selling his Yamaha Virago motorcycle that before Palermo was 16 years old he really wanted to inherit. Instead, the saxophone that his father bought him is what he played his first recording on, and he used it all through college, at one point being endorsed by Yamaha until switching to the Selmer Corporation.

Palermo has traveled the world as a performer and teacher/clinician, also sitting on Boards of Education and state boards to support the arts. He recently created his own website, michaelpalermomusic.com, which he then said helped to land him the upcoming job as Director of Instrumental Ensembles.

Michael Palermo is pictured with one of his favorite special needs music students, Jasmine. Submitted photo

“This is a funny story,” Palermo said. “I got a new website, up and running around February, and when it hit and I became, let’s say, more available, I received some calls about what to do next, after I retire from Mayfield. So this crossed my desk and when I inquired it took some time to get stuff together, but when I interviewed and talked to people about this opportunity, they all explained to me, and everyone professionally involved told me, this is a piece of coal waiting to turn into a diamond, they just needed the correct individual.”

Things started to progress after that, and Palermo said he soon realized he has been doing a similar job such as this for years on a smaller scale, saying that when he and his wife were in the Dominican for spring break it fully hit him that this job is what he wanted to do after retiring from Mayfield.

“I had enough gas in the tank to bring this program back to life, and really put it on the map,” Palermo said. “So we agreed I could do this part time until I leave Mayfield, and then only time will tell. I know that the results will be beneficial for all involved, especially the kids.”

As Director of Instrumental Ensembles for John Carroll University, Palermo’s primary role will be developing musical ensembles, administrative duties like working with Grad Assistants, and in a nutshell getting the kids ready to “play and play hard.”

“My goal will be to bring this program to life, bring this program to the forefront of Division III College Programs, and to just basically be the best they can be at any given minute,” Palermo said. “I will have many duties and roles behind the scenes, but guarantee this, when this band hits any type of performance stage; heads will turn and John Carroll Music will be known.”

Michael Palermo is pictured, a 1989 graduate of Jamestown High School, who will soon be filling the role of Director of Instrumental Ensembles for John Carroll University. Submitted photo

Some of the things Palermo said he is most looking forward to are the challenge and putting his advanced degrees to work, while also working with kids at the collegiate level. He added that it has been a goal for him to work with college students for a while, but he has not had the chance until now.

” I remember many years ago when I got my first teaching job in Steubenville, Ohio I contemplated leaving Jamestown because I desperately wanted to be a band director back in my home area, but that wasn’t in God’s plan, so I left for Ohio,” Palermo said. “I do remember the night I told my dearest friends, and especially my best friend to this day, Russell Ferraloro, a firefighter for Jamestown, I was moving away and heading to Ohio to take on the world, and to this day I still hear him say, ‘Good, go do your thing,’ and even to this day he has been someone who has had my back. I want to go to JCU and do this for the students there, the leaders who hired me, for all the people who have supported me like my family, and for guys like Russ, who continually believe in me. You can guarantee that this program will be strong, it’s just going to take time, patience, work, and dedication.”

Palermo said he is humbled by the opportunity to do this job and to have the support system that he has like his family. He said he is glad that this opportunity is coming at this point in his career, as he has learned a great deal over 32 years, which makes him feel he can be the best he can for John Carroll University. Palermo plans on taking everything he has learned in that time, from fifth grade, through high school, to college and his “array of wonderful music directors” at Bristol Hills Music Camp, to help develop this program for college students that will be “rewarding and fun”.

“Finally, after working 32 years in music education, and learning from directors like James Sanford, and with having people like him, and Ray Pappalardo to call when I need them, I have no doubt that John Carroll will be a phenomenal place for music students,” Palermo said. “And hey between the hard work, fun, and excitement of what will happen, we may actually learn a few things along the way.”

Michael Palermo is pictured with his long-time friend Ray Pappalardo. Submitted photo