Jim Casella is a composer from Portland, Oregon. Internationally recognized as one of today's most prolific arrangers for marching percussion, Casella has served as a composer/arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard (1996-2004), and The Cavaliers, 7-time world champion drum and bugle corps from Rosemont, Illinois (2006-09).

Casella attended San Jose State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with Anthony J. Cirone and Jack Van Geem. In Portland, he works as a composer/arranger for performance groups, as well as film and media projects. He also co-founded and operates Tapspace, a publishing company specializing in creative percussion music.

His latest broadcast composition projects have included nationwide spots for Cadillac, ABC College Football, Regal Cinemas, and Goodwill Industries. His score to the award-winning short film "There's Something Out There" received great reviews, and his new score to Brian Pulido's feature film "The Graves" starring Tony Todd (Candyman) and Bill Moseley (The Devil's Rejects) had a nationwide theatrical release in 2010 as a part of After Dark Films Horrorfest 4 "8 Films to Die For."

Jim Casella is a signature artist with Innovative Percussion Inc. who manufacture his popular series of drumsticks and keyboard mallets. In addition, Casella is an official endorser/clinician for Pearl Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Sibelius Software. He is the co-founder of Tapspace Publications and the producer and programmer of the innovative sample library, Virtual Drumline.

CLINIC TITLES USED: (Recommended recordings and / or publications that support these sessions)
"A Holistic Approach to Arranging for the Marching Percussion Ensemble"

MAJOR INFLUENCES:
Anthony J. Cirone, Ralph Hardimon