Michael Pfister

Michael Pfister is a professional drummer and Instructor in the College of Integrative Arts and Sciences at the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus. Mr. Pfister is active in the Phoenix arts community as both a performer and facilitator with interests rooted in collaborative and multidisciplinary work.

Mr. Pfister completed his M.A. in American Studies at Michigan State University in 2005. At the Arizona State University Downtown Campus, he teaches a variety of introductory through advanced level courses, including, freshman composition, writing on public issues, cultural literature, professional writing, and short fiction. As well, Mr. Pfister is the co-founder of two significant collaborative arts organizations, CollabX and Marche-Pfister Productions. Through these organizations Mr. Pfister has been a force in partnering, curating, and producing multi-disciplinary arts performances and workshops.

An active drummer in the Phoenix area, Mr. Pfister plays in a variety of bands including: Andromeda Collective, Something Else, and US4.

Currently, Mr. Pfister is working on a number of projects. Most recently, he has begun developing a research focused idea of information flows centered on “crate digging” that combines elements of DJ culture, music, and multi-disciplinary research based practices embedded in hip-hop culture and music. In addition to this Mr. Pfister is a co-developer of a performance piece titled, Barriers. Barriers is a dystopic vision of the future where the lack of resources, driven by climate change, cause the movement of cultures that are impediments to dignity and survival. Through music, movement, poetry, and built environment this project is meant to be an artistic and aesthetic salvo in light of the current Central American migration crisis and the inhumane treatment of Central American migrants in both Mexico and America.

Mr. Pfister’s interests are rooted in multidisciplinary work that is inclusive of composition, music, cultural studies, and digital culture.