Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassandra Kocoshis.
Hi Kassandra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was raised in a musical family and have been playing percussion since I was eleven years old. My mom was a professional singer who used to tour with Broadway productions in the 70’s. Music was always a part of our lives and I was lucky to be exposed to many kinds of music and art at a very young age.
In 2004, I was in my 3rd year of undergrad at DePaul University in Chicago studying to be a classical percussionist and I was extremely unhappy. I love classical music, but playing it was not bringing me joy. It was then that I discovered flamenco; the art form of music and dance from southern Spain. I became enamored with everything about it. I studied with flamenco percussionist Francisco Orozco Fernandez “El Yiyi” and put in countless hours of studying and playing to master the intricacies of this very difficult type of music. I have performed with many flamenco artists including Carmela Greco, Jose Cortes “Pansequito Hijo”, Alfonso Cid, Paco Fonta, dancers Cristian Lozano and Paloma Gomez, Diego Alonso, Chiara Mangiameli, Carlo Basile, Las Guitarras de España, Ensemble Español, and many others. In 2006 I was featured as one of six flamenco women in the Chicago Tribune’s article “Flamenco: A Way of life.” Through flamenco, I then discovered more types of music from all over the world.
During my time in Chicago, I performed with the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, the Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Concertante di Chicago, Sacred Winds Ensemble, and with hip-hop artist, Kanye West. I also contributed as a guest artist on Las Guitarras de España’s albums, “Cuatro por Arriba” and “Tantas Cosas” and as the percussionist in Wendy Clinard’s production of “Jondo Portraits.” I am also a founding member of the flamenco trio “Idilio” with Diego Alonso and Chiara Mangiameli and released our self-titled debut album in 2009.
In 2010, I relocated to Los Angeles to earn my MFA in World Percussion at California Institute of the Arts under the tutelage of percussion master Randy Gloss. Since moving to LA, I have performed with Carlos Vives, Vahagni, Mickey Hart, Shaherah White, Adam del Monte, Brazilian percussion master Guello, British percussionist Pete Lockett, Persian musician Hamed Nikpay, Persian percussion master Houman Pourmehdi, Uzbeki percussionist Abbos Kosimov, and guitarist Miroslav Tadic. In 2011, I was the percussionist for Theater Mitu’s “Chaos”; the first professional theater production to be conceived, produced and performed in the city of Abu Dhabi. I have also performed with indie rock group Young the Giant and at the South by Southwest Music Festival with Las Guitarras de España. Currently, I am freelancing in Los Angeles playing with pop, R&B, soul, new music, rock and flamenco groups around the city. For six years, I was a member of California soul band “Beat Mosaic” and am currently a part of the all female salsa band “Las Chikas”. I also often play with country music singer Brandon Stansell. My last live gig before the pandemic shut down the world was playing in the house band for the 2020 NFL Honors awards in Miami with music director Spencer Ludwig.
As a recording artist, I have recorded with artists from an array of different genres including Meghan Trainor, Vahagni, Soul Scratch, Beat Mosaic, and many others. I contributed as a musician on the Grammy-nominated album “Love Language” by South African flutist Wouter Kellerman. I can also be seen in Postmodern Jukebox’s video “The Prayer” featuring American Idol stars Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone. During the pandemic, I was fortunate to work with three other amazing female percussionists, Mona Tavakoli (Jason Mraz, Raining Jane), Jacquelene Acevedo (David Byrne’s American Utopia), and Dani Markham (Childish Gambino) where we created a percussion version of Chaka Khan’s “I feel for you” with only percussion instruments for Muse/Ique’s “Music in a minute! (…or Two)”. It was a blast connecting with these incredible women, even if it was only remotely, to create such a cool project. My first concert “back” I got to play with the amazing Grammy-winning Hila Plitman in her group “Renaissance Heart” which is a great group of musicians from all over the world to create their own unique sound.
I am also very passionate about teaching. I spent two years working for the Alliance of California Traditional Arts for their “Arts in Corrections” program. There I had the privilege of teaching drumming to the women at the California Institute for Women. It was a life-changing experience that opened my eyes to both the healing power of drumming and the extreme issues with this country’s prison system. I feel like my time is not overworking with that population and I look forward to seeing how else I can be of service to incarcerated men and women. I am currently an adjunct instructor of percussion at Los Angeles City College where I have been able to share my love of so many different kinds of music with my amazing students. I started the first Latin Ensemble there and am working to grow their World Music program.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being in the music business has its ups and downs. It is often feast or famine. Because of this, I have always had one hand in performing and one hand in the music business. In addition to playing, I have worked in arts administration for the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Aspen Opera Theater Company, Los Angeles Philharmonic (where I was the personal assistant of the amazing Gustavo Dudamel), and Cadenza Artists (a booking agency). I am now working for Los Angeles City College’s Dual Enrollment program where we help high school kids take college courses. As you can see, I try to always be flexible and when music is slow, I use my skills elsewhere until music comes back around to me again.
I would go into how being a female percussionist has its own set of struggles, but honestly I’m tired of talking about it and just want to play!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My music is a very eclectic mix and I will play with anyone who asks for a percussionist. One of the main instruments that I play is the cajon; an Afro-Peruvian instrument that is a box that you sit on and play. It is used not only in Afro-Peruvian music but also Flamenco (since the late 60’s). It seems like a simple instrument, but there are many nuances to it. I traveled to Peru to study with the keepers of the Afro-Peruvian cajon tradition and it was incredible. I also have traveled to Spain multiple times to study flamenco as well. I also in the past 12 years, fell in love with playing salsa music and have studied Afro-Cuban and Afro-Puertorican drumming as well. I pride myself in learning as much as I could about whatever type of music I am playing. It is important to not only learn about the music but the history and culture behind the music. I come from a Greek-American household, where culture was very important and I think that translated to my life of music and love and respect for other cultures.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My teachers: Erwin Mueller He always saw great things in me when I was kid and pushed me to do better and reach higher.
Eric Millstein: He supported me in my undergrad when I was starting to fall out of love with classical music and into love with Flamenco.
Randy Gloss: He is one of the most generous and loving teachers and mentors. Not to mention he is one hell of a percussionist and shared his knowledge when I was in grad school and still does to this day (10 years later).
Aaron Serfaty: He is also an incredible teacher, mentor and friend who opened my eyes to Salsa music and my ability to learn about such a vibrant yet complicated form of music.
My Colleagues/Friends/Family:
Carlo Basile: Believed in me and brought me into the fold when I was young newbie playing Flamenco in Chicago.
Diego Alonso: Challenged me and helped me nurture my love for Flamenco in the early days.
Chiara Mangiameli: Was my role model when I was in my early twenties on being an artist and following your passions.
Etienne Rivera: Mi hermano de percusión. Who taught me so much about Latin percussion and the amazing Afro-Puertorican art forms of Bomba and Plena.
Mariela Ramos Oquendo: Mi hermana del alma. Who encouraged me to be unapologetically myself through this journey.
My husband, Brian Bullard: Who always supports and loves me and puts up with my late nights and time away. Not to mention he helps me record my projects now and then. Kind of awesome to have an at-home audio engineer.
My parents and brothers: Who always come to my shows when they can make it out to LA and always cheer me on.
My Endorsers:
Jerry Zacarias from Latin Percussion: Who has helped me with so many projects and is always ready to help me with the next one.
Hector Torres from Amplified Timber: Not only created a device to make my cajon sound amazing, he has become a wonderful friend and mentor as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kassandrakocoshis.com
- Instagram: @kassianieleni
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBCvXALdgfjXYtrT4DoMbuA
Image Credits:
Julie Shuford Spencer Ludwig Eric Blackmon Julie Johnson
