Kassandra Kocoshis has been playing percussion since the age of eleven. In 2006 she received her Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance from DePaul University under the instruction of members from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. During college, she also studied with members of the world-renown percussion group, NEXUS. Kassandra has played with DePaul University's major ensembles, the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, marimba soloist with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Concertante di Chicago, Sacred Winds Ensemble, the Aspen Opera Theater, and with hip hop artist, Kanye West.
In 2004, Kassandra found flamenco. Since then, she has studied with flamenco percussionists Francisco Orozco Fernandez "El Yiyi", Gonzalo Grau, and Oscar Valero. Kassandra has performed with various Spanish guitarists and singers including Jose Cortes "Pansequito Hijo", Paco Fonta, Alfonso Cid, Manuel Palacin and Antonio Gabarri Jimenez. She has also worked with Spanish dancers such as Carmela Greco (daughter of the great José Greco), Cristian Lozano and Paloma Gomez (both members of the ballet Nacional de España). She has also performed with many Chicago-based flamenco musicians including Diego Alonso, Chiara Mangiameli, Carlo Basile, Patricia Alonso, Alfonso Ponticelli, David Chiriboga, Las Guitarras de España, Ensemble Español, and others. In 2006, she was featured as one of 6 flamenco women in the Chicago tribune's article "Flamenco: A way of life." Kassandra also contributed as a guest artist on Las Guitarras de España's 2007 album, "Cuatro por Arriba" and as the percussionist in Wendy Clinard's production of "Jondo Portraits."
