Michael Belajonas

Michael Belajonas, Adjunct Assistant Professor Office: H-18 Southampton Building Office Phone: 631.451.4346 Email: belajom@sunysuffolk.edu

Michael Belajonas is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Suffolk Community College in Selden, New York. He is also on the faculty of S.U.N.Y. Empire State College and is a performance associate for Hunter College. He is a graduate, Summa Cum Laude, from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Michael possesses a Master of Music in Classical Guitar as well as a Master of Arts in Music Theory-Composition. He has appeared several times as a guest lecturer at the Long Island Classical Guitar Festival held annually at Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus. He is the author of over seventy arrangements for Guitar Ensemble including several original compositions which have been premiered by the Suffolk Community College Guitar Ensemble and performed by such diverse groups as the University Ensemble of the College of William and Mary and the Guitar Orchestra of the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society. He has most recently performed in the world premiere of his own composition, "The Seventh Circle", a trio for Flute and Two Guitars in three movements, at the historic Vail-Leavitt Music Hall. The world premiere of his "Cavatina" for Flute and Guitar will be performed by the multi-award winning Serenade Duo at The American Cathedral in Paris in November of 2004. Both works will appear on upcoming CD releases by the Serenade Duo and Michael Belajonas. His endeavors as a freelance guitarist have afforded him the opportunity to perform in various settings including Merkin Hall, The Staller Center for The Performing Arts and as a guest on concert series sponsored by various local Arts Councils at various venues. Michael has been twice recognized for excellence in teaching, being awarded inclusion into the Fifth and Sixth Editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers. In recognition of Excellence in Academic Achievements, Michael was awarded membership in the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. He is a member of The Guitar Foundation of America, The College Music Society and an Advisory Board Member of The Long Island Classical Guitar Society. He has participated in Performance Workshops, Clinics and Master Classes in various styles of playing, learning from such diverse artists as Jerry Willard, Howard Morgen and Robert Fripp, to name only a few. Hear examples of Michael's playing here.