Majestic is proud to officially welcome Casey Cangelosi to their growing roster of concert percussion artists. Cangelosi, Professor of Percussion at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, has gained recognition as a rising star among performing percussionists, and has an established and loyal following as a composer. He has gained popularity with his innovative use of the internet, including YouTube video performances, to help promote his compositions.

“Casey is an amazing talent” said Chris Hankes, Percussion Product Manager for Majestic/Mapex. “His creativity and vision are a perfect complement to our instruments.”

In April, Majestic sponsored Mr. Cangelosi’s appearance at the Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference in Minneapolis. Casey performed several of his recent compositions, such as “Character No. 5” and “Walking Left Handed” on the Majestic M8650H five octave rosewood marimba. He concluded his portion of the “Voices from the New Generation” concert with his new two-mallet piece “White Knuckle Stroll” which wowed those in attendance.

“The Majestic marimba is fantastically vibrant, colorful, and dynamic,” said Cangelosi. “The beauty of the instrument is not only heard, but felt, a mutual seamless conduit between performer and audience. Not only was I immediately attracted to the visual and aural aesthetic, but the instrument simply feels great to play.”

In addition to his prowess on the marimba, Cangelosi is also very well-respected for his compositions and proficiency on snare drum and multiple percussion. At a recent masterclass for the University of Delaware percussion studio he demonstrated his technical facility performing his composition “Prelude” on a Mapex Black Panther Seamless Steel Panther Model snare drum.

“He demands a lot out of his drums and mallet instruments as they are a key component of bringing his music to life, and I am pleased that Majestic and Mapex are meeting and exceeding his expectations,” Hankes said. “I foresee many years of great compositions, music making and percussion education from Casey Cangelosi. We are very proud to partner with him in these efforts.”

For more information on Casey Cangelosi, please visit www.caseycangelosi.com.

For more information on the Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference, please visit www.marimba2010.org