Michael Kadnar is a professional drummer in the greater NYC area. He currently splits his time performing and living in Hamburg, Germany and New York’s Hudson Valley. After relentlessly touring the United States with his metal band Black Table in 2012 and 2013, Michael Kadnar was asked to join German based band Downfall of Gaia (Metal Blade Records) in January of 2014. Now that Michael and Downfall of Gaia have successfully completed their first European tour together (June 2014), which included a stop at Hellfest Open Air Festival, they are preparing to release a new record in November, 'Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay'.



Michael Kadnar started playing drums later than most. He didn’t begin until middle school, but has since invested all of his professional efforts into the development of his craft and his business. Michael spent his high school years joining whichever local metal bands that he could and playing in all of the scholastic bands. Michael went on to study Jazz Performance at the State University of New York New Paltz campus, where he meticulously crafted his unique drumming style, which is a fusion of hard-hitting metal minutia, and deliciate jazz nuance. This process was facilitated by a diverse group of instructors, including jazz drummers Dafnis Prieto, Jeff Siegel, Joe Morello, and metal drummers Billy Rymer and Matt Halpern.



While he was studying jazz and cutting his teeth at his first jazz gigs, Michael Kadnar was also an integral part of math metal bands Mabus, and Empier. He toured and recorded with both groups before they disbanded in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Promptly after graduating with his Bachelors in music, Michael Kadnar joined New York based post-black metal band “Black Table.” The group then released their critically acclaimed EP “Sentinel,” and toured the US on three seperate occasions, including one South by Southwest tour with Vattnet Viskar (Century Media). Black Table is hard at work writing and recording their debut full length record and is slated to tour the US and Europe in 2015.



Michael Kadnar is simultaneously involved in various jazz groups, and while he began as a sideman or session drummer, he has gone on to take on a more active role and to lead various trios and quartets. These groups have since evolved into steadily gigging entities.



When Michael Kadnar isn't on the road, he enjoys the privilege of teaching over 60 private drum and piano students at the New Windsor Music Academy, Van Gelder Music, A Music Place, and at his home studio. Kadnar has been teaching since 2006 and has built a loyal and talented student base.