![Wes Strasser](images/musicacademy/faculty/WesStrasser406x500.jpg)
Wes Strasser
Percussion/Timpani
Wesley holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Central Florida, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. While in Los Angeles, Wesley served as Principal Timpanist for the American Youth Symphony and the Debut Chamber Orchestra, two orchestras comprised of young professional musicians in the LA area. In June 2018, he served as a Fellow at the Texas Music Festival, performing weekly with the TMF orchestra in Houston. Since 2019, Wesley has been the Director of Percussion Studies at the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, SC. At FAC, he teaches percussion classes and lessons, runs the FAC Percussion Ensemble, and coaches the jazz and commercial music ensembles. Wesley was also featured as a guest faculty member at the UCF Percussion Summer Institute in July 2018, and has presented clinics at UCF, Furman, and all through the Greenville County Schools. Wesley is thrilled to be joining the VIMA faculty as principal timpanist this season! In addition to his position as a member of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra percussion section, Wesley has performed with professional orchestras across the United States including the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Symphony Orchestra (NC), Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, and Spartanburg Philharmonic.