Biography

Originally from Duncan, Oklahoma, SSG Vanessa Cassidy joined the US Army Band "Pershing's Own" in June 2025. She holds bachelor's degrees in flute performance and music education from the University of North Texas, graduating summa cum laude in May 2024. During her studies in Denton, she performed with ensembles such as the North Texas Wind Orchestra, the North Texas Opera Orchestra, the North Texas Studio Orchestra, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, and the Dallas Asian Winds. Vanessa is also a passionate educator, having maintained a large private flute studio while teaching high school ensembles and marching bands in the DFW metroplex, including the Marcus High School Band, Coppell High School Band, Terrell ISD Band program, and Royse City ISD Band program. She won her position in "Pershing's Own" in February 2025. Her teachers include Terri Sundberg, Amy Taylor, and Karen Torbert. Outside of music, Vanessa enjoys the outdoors, traveling, pickleball, tennis, creating new recipes, and trying local coffee shops.