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JAMES CASPAR
Music Director/Conductor, Symphonic Winds, Symphony Orchestra
jcaspar@wasd.iu5.org
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James Caspar is a 1987 graduate of Iroquois High School
and a 1991 graduate of Penn
State University , where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music
Education. While at Penn State, he performed in many ensembles, including
the Blue Band, Centre Dimensions, the school's top jazz ensemble, The Penn
State Symphony Orchestra (principal trumpet), and the Wind Ensemble
(principal trumpet). While at Penn
State he also played
in the Altoona Symphony Orchestra and The State College Opera Society
Orchestra.
After graduating, he taught in the Delaware public school system for seven
years, during which time his groups won consistent superior ratings. While
in Delaware , Caspar played professionally in several groups
including the Buzz Jones Big Band. Performing with this group led to a
European tour and a live CD recording at the Montreaux
Jazz Festival in Switzerland . He currently teaches instrumental music in the Wattsburg
Area School
District where his marching band has won the
LMBA class A championship for the past three years.
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WANHUAN GONG
Conductor, Overture Strings
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Wan Huan Gong, studied music and violin
at Shanghai Conservatory of music with Professor Zheng Shi Sheng, an
International Violinist and Judge of numerous competitions and Dean of the
Orchestra Department. Also studied in Xiamen University, China.
He is a graduate of SUNY at Broome Community College and Mercyhurst
College. While in China, he performed professionally with a number of
orchestras as well as performing as concertmaster. Many of his
students have performed in youth orchestras as well as having performed
solos, duets, trios and string quartets. His students have come from
local schools and from institutions of higher learning. He is an
outstanding teacher for those students he taught in New York State passed
the New York State School Music Association Exam with very high
scores. Besides instrumental teaching, he excels in Master Classes,
Music Theory and Ear Training. His many years of violin and viola
instruction and familiarity with music knowledge has benefited many
students who have been placed in orchestras in China and the United
States. The contributions he has made training and teaching youngsters
are innumerable. Currently, Mr. Gong teaches violin and viola at
Music Conservatory of Mercyhurst College. Sister Sullivan, former
director, expressed that “Mr. Gong has proven to be an excellent teacher,
well liked and respected by his students, their families and other members
of the faculty. He teaches students of all ages, including students
from other colleges and graduate students. All of them claim that
their lessons with him are most valuable.” His goal is to improve the
ability of every child or person he teaches and to instill those important
values that the Arts provide so that his students will continue to Aim
for Perfection.
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PATRICK ROSS
Conductor, Concert Winds
prossdrums@aol.com
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Patrick
Ross is a 1982 graduate of Edinboro University , where he received a Bachelor's degree in Music
Education with a concentration in Percussion. Upon graduation, he traveled and
played professionally until 1983, when he and his family opened a music
store in Erie
called "Let There Be Drums," which offered private instruction
and provided percussion equipment to area schools and performers. In 1997,
Ross became the Director of
Instrumental & Choral Music at Roosevelt
Middle School in Erie , where he continues to teach today. He recently earned
a Master's of Education in Administration degree and serves as the
Percussion Director of the Erie All City Marching Band. Mr. Ross conducts
six ensembles at Roosevelt , including two string groups, two concert band
classes, a chorus and jazz ensemble. He teaches percussion studies
privately and performs on weekends with various bands. He is an active
member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and continues to
chaperone at their state conventions each year.
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