Anthony Casamassima

I have been exploring music independently since an early age and started playing the saxophone in middle school band, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance in 2011 and a Master’s in Music Composition in 2016. I have toured the east coast as a soloist with numerous original music groups, and been featured locally in world-class musicians’ university exhibitions for over a decade. I also work with local community based organizations to enrich the musical environment of their programs and populations. My goal is to become a professor of music at a college or university.

It was during my postsecondary education when I realized how challenging it was to gig and lead a relatively healthy lifestyle. My first master’s thesis was on lifestyle choices among musicians in different genres and provided my first experience in research. I went on to obtain a Master’s of Music Education in 2020 where I have done research on helping students with learning disabilities, inclusion and equity in music ed, and the effects of class on musicians’ labor market outcomes. I’m currently in pursuit of a PhD in Music Education where I’m interested in an interdisciplinary approach to the study of music, combining education philosophy, sociological theory, and the performing arts to help students and professionals live fuller lives.