He is a percussionist and teacher born in Clifton, New Jersey, and who studied at the Juilliard School of Music.
He became a member of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in 1971 and debuted with them as a soloist in 1977. Also working as a chamber musician he has been heard with Summit Brass, Da Camera in Houston, Musica Aeterna in New York and Suzuki and Friends in Indianapolis and as a festival musician at the Masterworks, Aspen, Teton and Spoleto Music Festivals.
Having performed on more than seventy solo performances with the major orchestras in the United States, he has the recognition of having the most in American orchestral percussionist history. With over 80 performances in Carnegie Hall alone, he has appeared on over 110 recordings and appeared on five Grammy Award winners.
In musical education he has been on the faculties of St. Louis schools such as CASA, Webster University, Missouri Baptist College, Meramec Community College, Florissant Valley Community College, the Revolution School and University of Missouri, and he has also given master classes at the New England Conservatory, the Eastman and the Juilliard Schools of Music among others.
In the 2000s he and his wife, the flautist Paula Kasica, travel the world as Wildfire giving flute and percussion concerts.
Holiday Brass recordings
Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional French/James Chadwick/Edward Barnes)
Music Masters 01782 (CD: Holiday Brass featuring Susan Slaughter)
Trumpet – Susan Slaughter
St. Louis Children’s Choirs – Concert Choir
Sources:
- http://www.slso.org/0304notes/11-6.htm
- http://www.worshipatwork.com/bios.html
- http://www.revolutionschool.com/faculty.html
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/1047626-John-Kasica
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-kasica-mn0002197758/credits