June 7, 2011 > Special Life Events: Michael De Smidt Special Life Events: Michael De Smidt Submitted By Frank De Smidt Michael De Smidt received his Master of Arts in Music from San Diego State University Saturday, May 21, 2011. This includes a specialization in Ethnomusicology, "The study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts," according to Ethnomusicologist Jaap Kunst. De Smidt received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2007. He builds and plays genuine hand-crafted Irish Uilleann (ILL-un) bagpipes. Sports-wise, he plays defense in Ireland's national sport, Hurling, for St. Peter's Hurling Club of San Diego which will compete in the Junior "C" Tournament in the North American Gaelic Athletic Association Championships in San Francisco this September.