About the Directors
Ms. Marissa Casano is an active music educator, conductor, and performer in the Detroit-Metro area. A recent graduate of Michigan State University, she recently completed her student teaching in the Okemos Public Schools under the mentorship of the Okemos High School Director of Bands, Mark Stice. As of December of 2019, Ms. Casano has assumed the role of Orchestra Director and K-12 Strings Coordinator at Oxford High School in the Oxford Community Schools.
Prior to teaching, Ms. Casano regularly performed as a flutist with the MSU Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, and Symphony Band, performing under the batons of Dr. Arris Golden, Professor John T. Madden, and Dr. David Thornton. Additionally, she carried the Maryland flag in the Big Ten Flag Corps in the Spartan Marching Band for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons. During the summer of 2017, Ms. Casano traveled with the Michigan State Unviersity Flute Studio on their inaugural study abroad program to Dublin, Ireland. Upon returning, she presented her research regarding the contrasting effects of culture on music education in Ireland and the United States at the Learning Abroad Conference in East Lansing.
While at Michigan State, Ms. Casano actively pursed supplemental coursework in advanced conducting. During her collegiate career, she was accepted to participate in conducting symposiums at Northwestern University, The University of Colorado-Boulder, The University of Minnesota, and Michigan State University. During this time, Ms. Casano studied with Dr. Tyler Austin (Oklahoma State University), Dr. Brandon Hults (USAF Band), Dr. Chris Kaatz (Stephen F. Austin University), and Dr. David Thornton (Michigan State Unviersity). In addition, she has pursued graduate-level coursework in string pedagogy under the mentorship of Dr. Judy Palac and Professor Kevin Noe.
Outside of music, Ms. Casano enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, and traveling. She currently resides in Troy, MI.
Ms. Marissa Casano is an active music educator, conductor, and performer in the Detroit-Metro area. A recent graduate of Michigan State University, she recently completed her student teaching in the Okemos Public Schools under the mentorship of the Okemos High School Director of Bands, Mark Stice. As of December of 2019, Ms. Casano has assumed the role of Orchestra Director and K-12 Strings Coordinator at Oxford High School in the Oxford Community Schools.
Prior to teaching, Ms. Casano regularly performed as a flutist with the MSU Concert Band, Concert Orchestra, and Symphony Band, performing under the batons of Dr. Arris Golden, Professor John T. Madden, and Dr. David Thornton. Additionally, she carried the Maryland flag in the Big Ten Flag Corps in the Spartan Marching Band for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons. During the summer of 2017, Ms. Casano traveled with the Michigan State Unviersity Flute Studio on their inaugural study abroad program to Dublin, Ireland. Upon returning, she presented her research regarding the contrasting effects of culture on music education in Ireland and the United States at the Learning Abroad Conference in East Lansing.
While at Michigan State, Ms. Casano actively pursed supplemental coursework in advanced conducting. During her collegiate career, she was accepted to participate in conducting symposiums at Northwestern University, The University of Colorado-Boulder, The University of Minnesota, and Michigan State University. During this time, Ms. Casano studied with Dr. Tyler Austin (Oklahoma State University), Dr. Brandon Hults (USAF Band), Dr. Chris Kaatz (Stephen F. Austin University), and Dr. David Thornton (Michigan State Unviersity). In addition, she has pursued graduate-level coursework in string pedagogy under the mentorship of Dr. Judy Palac and Professor Kevin Noe.
Outside of music, Ms. Casano enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, and traveling. She currently resides in Troy, MI.
Mr. James Berezney is a violinist and an educator who has been teaching Orchestra at Oxford Middle School since 2015. He is currently Director of Orchestras a Oxford Middle School and also instructs Oxford's Second Year Orchestra.
Before teaching in the Oxford Community Schools James also taught as a violin instructor and early childhood music instructor at the Michigan State University Community Music School in East Lansing, MI and the Brookline Music School in Brookline, MA. In the summers James is a violin instructor for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and has participated in summer music festivals such as the Meadowmount Music Festival, NY and the Aspen Music Festival, CO. James is a member of Nafme (National Association for Music Educators) and ASTA (American String Teachers Association).
James holds Bachelor’s degrees for Music Performance and Music Education from Michigan State University, and a Master’s degree for Music Performance from Boston University.
