Clarinetist and woodwind specialist Ted Casher passed away on January 22nd, he was 85. He graduated from Boston Conservatory/Berklee College of Music and studied at Harvard University. He served as Musical director of the Rhode Island All-Star High School Jazz Ensemble, conducted All-State Jazz Ensembles in Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, taught at Berklee College of Music, Rhode Island School of Music, Roger Williams University, the University of Rhode Island, Community College of Rhode Island, Dean College, Ponaganset High School and North Attleboro High School. He also taught at Foxboro Jazz Improvisation Camp, Maine Jazz Camp, and Rhode Island Music Educators Camp. He was the Composer-in-Residence for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and Jazz instructor for The Arts Center, in Providence, RI. His love of jazz will live on in innumerable young musicians.
Over the years he performed with The Harry James Orchestra, The Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra, The Artie Shaw Orchestra, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, and The Ray MacKinley All-Stars, and a number of popular recording artists including Aretha Franklin and John Denver. He also appeared with a number of New England traditional jazz names including Eli Newberger, Sarah Gardner, Bo & Bill Winiker, and others.
