Kathleen Kastner

Kathleen Kastner is a Senior Lecturer at Wheaton College, where she serves as the first resident percussion teacher. Since founding the Wheaton College Percussion Ensemble in 1972, she has taught percussion performance, world music, and twentieth-century music history. Her career combines performance, pedagogy, and scholarly contributions to percussion studies.

Education:

• D.M.A. in Percussion Performance and Literature (1989) - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• M.M. in Percussion Performance (1976) - American Conservatory of Music, Chicago
• B.M. in Percussion Performance (1971) - Wheaton College

Research & Expertise: Dr. Kastner specializes in percussion pedagogy, world music traditions, and twentieth-century music history. Her work emphasizes cross-cultural musical exploration and pedagogical innovation, exemplified by her book The Marimba: Teach It! (2013).

Professional Contributions: She held significant roles in the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), including Board of Directors member, associate editor for research of Percussive Notes, chair of the Scholarly Research Committee, PAS historian, and Illinois State Chapter President.

Honors:

• Senior Teaching Award, Wheaton College (2011)
• Percussive Arts Society Outstanding Service Award (2012)
• Wheaton College Alumna of the Year for Distinguished Service (2017)