10/30/2026
✨FACULTY FRIDAY✨
Today's feature:
Professor Casey Cangelosi
Education 🎓: MM Rice University, MM Boston Conservatory, BM Utah State University
Tell us about your role in the School of Music:
"I am an Associate Professor and the Director of Percussion Studies. I teach the percussion majors along with my dear colleagues, Aaron Trumbore and Karl Tietze. I also direct the Percussion Ensemble and teach our Percussion Literature and Pedagogy courses."
What makes students successful in your classes or studio?
"The JMU School of Music has a long-standing track record of success—job placements, competitions, scholarship to graduate programs, etc... I feel my studio thrives largely thanks to the strength of the entire program. Though I'm a performer mostly, I benefited tremendously from my classes in Music Theory, Music History, and Form and Analysis. I see the same gains for my students here in JMU's School of Music. For my studio I emphasize work experience, performance frequency and comfort, and producing evidence of their musicianship. Many of my students find local teaching and performance opportunities, and we regularly create in-house recordings which greatly helps their visibility in application processes. The culture of the percussion studio is something nearly all my visiting guest-artists have complimented. I hear again and again, 'It's a good vibe here.' We have a healthy practice culture and a healthy path to a professional mindset."
How do students gain real-world experience through the program?
"Our activities here often have us rubbing shoulders with the real world. Again, I have to thank my colleagues for providing such great opportunities for our students to travel and compete as large ensembles, and for bringing guest-speakers, world-class performers and composers to us every single year. The percussionists here at the graduate level have found Adjunct teaching positions in our surrounding colleges and universities, and many of the students perform with local professional orchestras and community groups. Additionally, there are many teaching opportunities through the public-school music programs in the area."
What advice would you give a prospective music student?
"There's of course a lot to say, but the advice I've seen repeatedly proven valuable for my incoming students it to take the first year slowly. Take your first year to feel the pace of college and acclimate to what a regular year feels like without any extra commitments. This goes for JMU and/or anywhere else. You're going to want to say "yes" to a lot of great opportunities, and it's important to do that, but only when you're sure you have space. You must get your busy gauge in tune before you can be sure if "yes" to extra commitments is right."
What hobby do you enjoy outside of music?
"Racquetball—who's ready? Let's go, UREC today. I'm fully prepared to blow off any committee meeting for racquetball."
Why should students choose our School of Music?
"I think you will genuinely like it here and faculty can absolutely help you find success. Great advice I received once was to seek a teacher and/or program that puts its graduates in the places I want to be. This could be a job, sponsorship, a gig, etc. The School of Music here has a great rack record of success; our placements are very high—jobs, graduate scholarships, competitions, etc. I also recommend JMU for the path it offers leading up to this success. My students make great connections, friends, and are part of a culture that is kind, positive, nurturing, fulfilling, fun, and productive. They generally leave JMU with their goals met and come out well-adjusted for whatever is next."
