Media Guide to WCU Faculty Experts
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Dr. Ralph Sorrentino
Chair, Department of Instrumental Music; Assistant Professor, Percussion
Wells School of Music - Applied Music
Bio
Dr. Ralph Sorrentino teaches applied percussion and directs the Percussion Ensemble at West Chester University. Sorrentino serves as Principal Percussionist with Opera Philadelphia and Section Percussionist with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra. He performs as a substitute percussionist with The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has performed under the batons of many of the world's great conductors (Riccardo Muti, Sir Simon Rattle, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Kirill Petrenko, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Michael Tilson Thomas) in many of the world's great concert halls (Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Chicago's Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Ravinia Festival and the Bravo! Vail Festival). Sorrentino serves as Principal Percussionist with the Bay Atlantic Symphony and Symphony in C, and he has performed with the Russian National Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Philly Pops, Orchestra 2001, and the New World, Delaware, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Kennett and Reading Symphonies. Ralph has performed for several world leaders and dignitaries, including HRH Prince Charles and Pope Francis.
Education
- B.S., West Chester University
- B.M., West Chester University
- M.M., Temple University
- Ed.D., West Chester University