I was born in a log cabin and had to walk through the snow 100 miles each day, by the light of a kerosene lamp, to get to music school. My family was so poor that my dad had to take a second job wrestling alligators to get enough money for busfare to get to the music store and break in to steal my first recorder. Our neighborhood was so poor they had to paint it before they could condemn it. One day a tornado came through and caused millions of dollars worth of improvements. I never had a mother, she left before I was born. I was abandoned in an office building so the elevator operator brought me up. (just kidding!)
My name is Gene Casti. I live in the cultural desert called Reno, Nevada. I began playing the recorder in about 1954. I studied composition with Lou Harrison and Tikey Zes, conducting with Cesare Claudio and George Cleve, piano with Eleanor Hansen and John Delavoreas, harp with Elizabeth Zolenski and orchestration with Allen Strange. I was principal bassist with the West Valley Symphony Orchestra from 1964 to 1970. I played piano professionally with various engagements in the San Francisco bay area as well as a performing as a cocktail pianist at the Silver Fox and Del Prado in Sacramento, Calif.
I am a professionally curious person. My goal in life is to know everything there is to know about everything (totally unreachable, of course but fun just the same). I have successfully attended 5 colleges and universities over a period of 35 years.
I was born in 1945 and escaped from Rochester, N.Y. in 1960.
I try to be non-confrontational, non-competitive and limit material possessions to my needs and enjoyments. I find great contentment in the beauty of life. I have great admiration for music and art.
The free recorder course is offered as a small gift to the world. I sell arrangements and accompaniments as well as orginal compositions to support my lifelong habits of nutrition and shelter.