Michael Sackstein

I am currently studying at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and am in my third year. I am double majoring in Marketing and Psychology, and hope to one day become a part of the music industry in some shape or form, whether it be as a producer or in another major role. At UMass, I am a member of the renowned fraternity Phi Gamma Delta, known globally as FIJI. We take part in many community and social events on and off campus every year, including volunteer work and fundraising; we also consistently take part in social gatherings and events with our fellow Greek Life members in other fraternities and sororities. In addition to FIJI, I am a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), an academic organization that does similar work of what I currently am involved with in FIJI. Outside of college, I have been involved with numerous volunteer work from aiding senior citizens in a retirement development to assisting medical staff at a local hospital.

Something that's really special in my life is music. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved music and have been playing an instrument since I was five years old. Grandparents and great-grandparents had played instruments when they were younger, so it was fitting that I found a love for music as well. Over the years, I’ve learned how to play the piano, recorder, clarinet for my school orchestra, and guitar; I’ve also being exposed to other instruments such as the drum, triangle, violin, and oboe. Although I never fully learned how to play any of the latter, being able to mess around with each gave me a better understanding of music through different instruments. After giving each of those up, I stuck with guitar for eight years and continue to play it to this day, carrying my passion for music with me.

Since learning guitar, I’ve performed in various bands with friends over the years as additional exposure to other musicians and what I could learn from them. Over the years, listening to musical different styles via peers, favorite bands, and popular artists, has really broadened my knowledge to the music world and given me great exposure. I’ve also studied famous artists and their unique styles in my spare time, such as Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Travis Barker of Blink-182, and Slash. Now being in college, music is still a big part of my life. Once I finish school, my dream is to work for a major record company and mold the next mega-stars of music.