Motionless Swirls by Michael Gilbert Ronstadt

Ensembles formed while at the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2004 and 2005 include Nothing Yet (A Cello Duo with Oberlin cellist, Gabrielle Athayde), and Watts and Ronstadt (Guitar/Cello duo with Aspen guitarist, Tripp Watts). He also performs with the Ronstadt, Ramirez Santa Cruz River Band, when possible.

Michael Ronstadt received his Bachelors of Music in cello performance May 2006 from the University of Arizona with internationally acclaimed cellist Nancy Green and Nelzimar Neves, principal cellist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He also studied with long time pedagogue Dr. Gordon Epperson for 8 years (1998-2006). In the summers of 2004 and 2005, Michael learned from Yehuda Hanani of the University of Cincinnati and William Grubb of Butler University. He is currently working on his Master of Music in Cello Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), under the instruction of Yehuda Hanani.

Michael works as a studio musician throughout Tucson, Arizona. He is the string reference for The Nail Recording Studio, owned by Mike Zecchino and has collaborated with such artists as Judy Nicholson and Dean Maier. He has recorded under the expertise of Jim Brady Recording Studios for Bobby Ronstadt, The Ronstadt, Ramirez Santa Cruz River Band, and a local independent film score, among others. Michael also collaborates with artists at Allusion Studios, run by Jim Pavett, including Amber Norgaard.

In addition to recording for other local song writers, Michael released his debut solo CD, titled Motionless Swirls February 2006. In this album, Michael wrote all the songs, performed the vocal, cello, and guitar parts, featuring Petie Ronstadt, Michael J. Ronstadt, Bryan Matyjasik, and Sam Eagon on bass, drums, and additional vocal harmonies. The CD is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/mgronstadt/.

His discography also includes CD releases by Desert Rain, titled Start of the Storm, and Through the Storm. TG Express released Mutual Corruption in 2005, along with a demo EP in 2004. Back in 1999, his former rock band, 9am, released their album, Seriously Though. His collaborations have enhanced Jude Nicholson’s project, Living Alone, and The Goodbye Kiss’s self titled EP in 2005. Michael Ronstadt performs on the bonus track of Amber Norgaard’s 2006 album, Rising. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Michael contributed cello parts to each of the three albums, Volume I, II, and III respectively for the Ronstadt, Ramirez Santa Cruz River Band. Additional projects by Bobby Ronstadt (1999), Art Andrade (1998), and Dean Maier (2005) include Michael‘s work.

Michael has also played guitar for 11 years, learning from Mr. Valenzuela (Mariachi teacher at Davis Elementary, Tucson , AZ ). Michael has also played Charango since 1999 and learned from Carlos Armendariz and Robert Colville. He utilizes his guitar and charango skills (in addition to cello) in his non-classical solo work, Alborada, TG Express, and Desert Rain (1997-2002 w/ Jonathan Confer), a guitar duo.

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