Born and raised in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Michael J. Maccaferri began his musical studies in front of a monolithic tangerine-orange piano which fell off the back of a farm truck. A clarinet dug out of an aunt’s closet soon came to be his tool of choice as he found his way to study at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts and New England Conservatory of Music. After finishing preparatory studies he went on to train at the renowned midwestern mecca that is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

During his time at Oberlin, he was active in many ensembles including the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra and Contemporary Music Ensemble. His love for new music led to frequent collaborations with student and faculty composers writing chamber/orchestral works and mixed medium theatrical productions. It was also at Oberlin where he found pleasure and delight in political activism, print design and technology consulting.

His principal instructors include J. Lawrie Bloom (Northwestern University), Lawrence McDonald (Oberlin Conservatory), Ronald deKant and Ronald Aufman (Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music).

When not performing with eighth blackbird, Michael works as a freelance graphic designer and media consultant. In his free time, he enjoys country-western dancing and following the International Gay Rodeo circuit.