2016 Percussion Ensemble Honors Project

Casey Cangelosi

Casey Cangelosi was recently appointed Director of Percussion Studies at James Madison University. Prior to, he was an Instructor of Music at Concord University where he taught percussion, music history, music theory, jazz, and music technology. Casey is commonly hosted world-wide by universities, music festivals, arts academies, music conferences, and educational seminars. Casey has been a visiting guest artist in Italy, Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Croatia, Sweden, Taiwan, and widely across the U.S. at events including the Midwest Clinic and PASIC Showcase Concerts. As a composer and performer he has been called the “Paganini of Percussion” and “The voice of a new generation”. Commissions for new compositions have come from Thailand, England, Sweden, China, France, the U.K.,the Percussive Arts Society, the Atlanta Symphony Modern Snare Drum Competition, among many others in the US. Principle teachers have included: Richard Brown of the Houston Opera and New York Symphony, marimba virtuoso Nancy Zeltsman, Principal timpanist of the Chicago Symphony, Dave Herbert, and Dennis Griffin of the Utah Symphony. Casey’s music can be heard on CD releases by Texas Christian University, Fort Lewis College, and Michael Varner’s solo percussion CD. Casey’s compositions are frequently programmed world-wide and are common repertoire in percussion competitions; his music distributes from retailers in Spain, Australia, the U.K., Japan, Germany, Amsterdam, and the US. Casey holds MM degrees from the Boston Conservatory and Rice University, and BM from Utah State University. Casey is endorsed by Majestic, Mapex, Zildjian, Grover Pro Percussion, Remo, Beiner Bags, and has artist signature series marimba mallets from Innovative Percussion.