Electronic Press Kit A.J. Merlino
Curriculum Vitae Education 2014 - DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts), UNLV (University of Nevada Las Vegas) The Percussionist Bodybuilder: Optimizing Performance Through Exercise and Nutrition 2012 - MM (Master of Music), UNLV 2010 - BA (Bachelor of Arts in Music), Kutztown University Professional Employment Instructor of Music Industry Studies, Albright College, 2015-Present Instructor of Percussion Studies, Kutztown University, 2013-Present Assistant Band Director, Crestwood High School, 2015-Present Percussion Caption Head, Crestwood High School, 2015-Present Percussion Instructor, Menchey Music, 2015-Present Music Instructor, Reading Music Foundation, 2014-Present Mexican Marimba Ensemble Director, New York Youth Musicians, 2014-Present Front Ensemble Instructor, Kutztown University Marching Unit, 2014-Present Chamber Music Instructor, Kutztown University Chamber Festival, 2014-Present Front Ensemble Instructor/Coordinator, Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corp, 2014 Percussion Instructor, Yocum Institute for Arts Education, 2014-2015 Lead Instructor of Performing Arts, ESF Camps, 2014-2015 Talent/Booking Assistant, Hayden Productions, Las Vegas, 2011-2014 Talent/Booking Assistant, E-Plus Entertainment, Las Vegas, 2011-2014 Talent/Booking Assistant, Best Models/Entertainment, Las Vegas, 2011-2014 Percussion Graduate Assistant, UNLV, 2010-2013 Music Director, Resurrecting Sin City, Las Vegas and Adelaide, Australia, 2012 Composer, Resurrecting Sin City, Las Vegas and Adelaide, Australia, 2012 Music Director, Carnival of Venice, Venetian Las Vegas, 2012 Composer/Arranger, Carnival of Venice, Venetian Las Vegas, 2012 Studio Manager, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, 2007-2010 Manufacturing, Publishing, A&R, Marketing, Mostly Marimba Corporation, Neptune NJ, 2007-2010 Professional Organizations Percussive Arts Society National Academy of Sports Medicine Performing Arts Medicine Association College Music Society BMI Endorsements Yamaha Percussion Innovative Percussion Paiste Remo DrumTacs Meinl Percussion Alternate Mode Pigtronix
Select Teaching Experience Albright College, Instructor, Music Business II, 2016 Albright College, Instructor, Artist Management, 2016 Albright College, Instructor, Music Marketing, 2015 Albright College, Instructor, Music Business I, 2015 Kutztown University, Instructor, Fundamentals of Music Business, 2016 Kutztown University, Instructor, Percussion Lessons, 2013-Present Kutztown University, Instructor, Percussion Ensemble, 2013-2014 Kutztown University, Instructor, World Percussion Ensemble, 2013-2014 Kutztown University, Instructor, Percussion Methods, 2013 UNLV, Instructor, Marimba Band, 2012-2013 UNLV, Instructor, Percussion Ensemble, 2012-2013 UNLV, Graduate Assistant, Introduction to World Music, 2012 UNLV, Instructor, Marimba Band, 2012 UNLV, Instructor, History of Rock and Roll, 2010-2013 UNLV, Instructor, Steel Band, 2010-2011 International House of Blues Foundation, Clinician, Las Vegas 2010-2012 Kutztown University, Clinician, Kutztown PA, 2009 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Clinician, Hershey, PA Service Committees Kutztown University Department of Music, New Programs Committee, 2013-2014 Kutztown University Department of Music, Recruitment, 2013-2014 Performances Albright College Faculty Concert, Albright College, Reading, PA, 2015 Albright College Gallery Performance for Metaphysics, Albright College, Reading, PA, 2015 La Creation du Monde, Kutztown University Faculty Scholarship Recital, Kutztown, PA, 2014 It s About Time, Kutztown University Faculty Scholarship Recital, Kutztown, PA, 2014 Coming Home, Kutztown University Faculty Recital, Kutztown, PA, 2013 New Courses Fundamentals of Music Business Injury Prevention for Musicians: Improving Overall Health and Wellness Adjudication Clark County All State Percussion Auditions, NV, 2011 Clark County All State Percussion Auditions, NV, 2010 Educational Music Presentations Cultural Journeys Educational Presentation, William Penn Elementary School, PA, 2014 Cultural Journeys Educational Presentation, Robert K. Shafer Middle School, PA, 2014 Cultural Journeys Educational Presentation, Samuel K. Faust Elementary School, PA, 2014 Cultural Journeys Educational Presentation, Settlement School of Music, PA, 2014 History of the Marimba Band Presentation, Ragtime Piano Festival, IL, 2013 Grants Kutztown University grant for travel to Adelaide, Australia, 2013 UNLV grants for travel to Adelaide, Australia, and Cordoba Argentina, 2011-2013
A.J. Merlino s intense and versatile performing style has made him a highly sought after percussionist for the past decade. His playing has taken him around the world including Scotland, Croatia, Greece, Thailand, Australia, and Argentina. A resident of Las Vegas, he has been seen performing on the Las Vegas strip with such artists as Jay-Z, Redfoo of LMFAO, Ronnie Vannucci of The Killers, Eric Marienthal, and Cee Lo Green for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. He has also collaborated with famed percussionists Michito Sanchez, Pepe Jimenez, Christian Tamburr, Bernie Dresel, and Kurt Rasmussen. Merlino has worked as music director, composer and performer for many projects held at The Venetian, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas as well as the production show Resurrecting Sin City, which premiered in Las Vegas and traveled to Adelaide, Australia. As a clinician, he has presented to numerous colleges, high schools, festivals and has worked for the International House of Blues with Kurt Rasmussen. One of the few cimbalom soloists in the country, Merlino has performed as a soloist on this instrument with various college and professional ensembles, such as Moravian Wind Symphony, Reading Symphony Orchestra, and Vox Ama Deus Ensemble. He can be heard on several recordings including Lost Vegas (principle percussionist, UNLV Wind Orchestra), Rebels in Paris (soloist/percussionist, Vox Ama Deus Ensemble), and Just Play (percussionist, The Colt Kayser Band). A strong supporter of new music, Merlino uses his diverse skills on dozens of percussion instruments to commission new works from up and coming composers, such as a work for six-mallet marimba and choir by Los Angeles composer Justin Raines and a new work for marimba by Casey Cangelosi. His work with new music also extends to numerous premieres utilizing various instrumentations by David T. Little, Virko Bailey, Jim Barnes, Scott Steele, Eric Whitacre, and Michael Daugherty. Merlino holds a percussion performance degree from Kutztown University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A.J. Merlino is currently an instructor for Kutztown University, Albright College, Menchey Music, Reading Samba School, and The Reading Music Foundation.
Promotional Video Links 2012 Compilation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qii2az9-r1o Billboard Music Awards - Percussionist for Cee Lo Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjhognwmtka IBM Orchestra - Percussionist for IBM Conference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq5hug95jlm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2xnawsumqe Mocidade Rebelde with Kurt Rasmussen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7dpg7vzxba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v92m0m9unte