Department of Music

Faculty

Tom Freer Coordinator of Percussion Studies

A native of Millbrook, New York, Tom began his percussion and timpani training seriously at age nine with Jim Atwood, a former student of Cloyd Duff. By age fifteen, he won an audition to become principal percussionist with the Asheville, North Carolina Symphony, and then principal timpanist at age 16. Tom attended the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was accepted as Cloyd Duff’s last student before retiring. While in school, Tom formed a band called the Exotic Birds with, Stabbing Westward drummer, Andy Kubiszewski, Pittsburgh Symphony timpanist, Tim Adams, and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. This was an original alternative band that toured with Culture Club and opened for many major acts of the time such as The Thompson Twins, Psychedelic Furs, Paul Young, Big Country, Modern English and others. In 1986 Tom resigned from the rock scene and headed to Stockholm Sweden, to become principal percussionist and assistant timpanist of the Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra. After one year there Tom became principal timpanist for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic for two seasons and then principal timpanist of the Alabama Symphony in Birmingham for two seasons. He then settled in with the Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal timpanist and section percussionist, where he has remained f since 1991. He’s a frequent clinician and guest artist, and is Coordinator of Timpani and Percussion studies at Cleveland State University. Tom can be heard on over twenty recordings with the Cleveland Orchestra on the London/Decca and Deutsche Grammophon labels. He also was recently featured on the cover of Pearl Drums' 2006 Educational Product Catalog.

Matthew Bassett Director, CSU Percussion Ensemble Assistant Coordinator of Percussion Studies

Matthew Bassett is an active performer and educator in the Cleveland area. A native of Northeast Ohio, Mr. Bassett holds degrees in music performance from both The Cleveland Institute of Music (B.M.) and Cleveland State University (M.M.). Highlights of Matt’s performance career have included: serving as principal timpanist for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Wellington, New Zealand; performing as percussion soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Canton Symphony; and participating in the U.S. premiere performance of Four4 by John Cage at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City with the composer in attendance. Currently, Matt serves as principal timpanist for the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Mansfield Symphony and also as principal timpanist & percussionist with Apollo’s Fire (The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra). He performs frequently with numerous groups in the region including the Cleveland Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic and has served as acting principal timpani with the Erie Philharmonic. Matt can be heard on selected commercial recordings with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Apollo’s Fire, the Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra.

As an educator, Mr. Bassett has taught percussion to students of all ages and ability levels. Of particular importance has been his commitment to percussion ensemble as both an educational tool and a musical genre. During the last twelve years, he has directed percussion ensemble programs at the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Division, Shaker Heights High School, Case Western Reserve University, and Cleveland State University. His ensembles have been featured at percussion festivals, State Music Association Conferences, and have been heard on live radio. Mr. Bassett also served as Percussion Advisor and Assistant Conductor with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony for nine seasons. Highlights of that tenure included assisting in the coordination of three international concert tours, conducting the ensemble at Severance Hall in Cleveland and at the 2001 Ohio Music Education Association Professional Conference. Matt has arranged music for marching percussion, percussion ensemble, and is presently working on a timpani practice manual for his students. Currently, Mr. Bassett teaches percussion and directs the percussion ensembles at both Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University.

Mr. Bassett operates a home business repairing percussion instruments and equipment. He re-wraps timpani mallets for professional and amateur performers and reconditions instruments for local school music programs. Matt resides in Cleveland with his partner Kathleen Bassett, a music educator in the Lakewood City Schools.
Visit Mr. Bassett ’s website: www.matthewbassett.net

Bill Ransom Jazz Drums

Bandleader, drummer and percussionist Bill Ransom is a musical chameleon - equally at home with classical, jazz, R&B and rock. With a style described as “physical, stirring, demanding, rare and personal,” Bill has toured and recorded with leading artists including Patrice Rushen, Beth Hart, Marion Meadows, Cecil Bridgewater, Diane Reeves, Mary Wilson, and James Newton. He spent much of the 90’s on the road with contemporary saxophonist Najee and R&B crooner Gerald LeVert and was featured percussionist on Mr. LeVert’s solo debut, “Private Line.” Bill has appeared a number of theatrical productions including “Love, Janis”, under the musical direction of Big Brother & the Holding Company’s Sam Andrew who noted “¼When Bill Ransom plays the drums he looks as if he is made of rubber and he makes every time special because he acts it out.” 

For the past several years Bill has directed “Jazz Meets Hip Hop” for the Tri-C JazzFest in Cleveland, Ohio and is a consultant to both the Shaker Heights school system and Cleveland Music School Settlement. His debut CD, Generations, was released nationwide in November, 2005 on Bongo Time Records.