Frank Cassara

Frank Cassara serves as Adjunct Lecturer in Percussion and Coordinator of Percussion Studies at the Conservatory of Music within the School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He additionally heads percussion departments at Long Island University and Vassar College. As a core member of the Philip Glass Ensemble and Steve Reich and Musicians, Cassara performs globally and records landmark contemporary works.

His performance expertise spans percussion in contemporary classical, minimalist, and world music traditions, with emphasis on premiering new compositions and mastering diverse instruments including microtonal systems from the Harry Partch repertoire. Cassara actively bridges Western classical traditions with global percussion practices through collaborations with ensembles like New Music Consort/PULSE Percussion Ensemble and Music From China.

Career highlights include principal percussion roles with Connecticut Grand Opera and Riverside Symphony, Broadway performances in The Lion King, 42nd Street, and Phantom of the Opera, plus acclaimed recordings such as Philip Glass' Hydrogen Jukebox and Gavin Bryars' Grammy-nominated Jesus' Blood. Critical praise from The New York Times and Fanfare Magazine underscores his technical virtuosity and interpretive depth.

In his educational leadership across three institutions, Cassara mentors students in percussion performance, repertoire development, and interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering next-generation artists through comprehensive training in both traditional orchestral techniques and experimental performance practices.