Schaefer to speak at graduate ceremony

Graduate commencement, featuring 90 candidates, will be broadcast at chadronstate.tv.

Schaefer, a drummer and marimba player since he was young, has taught at Chadron State College for 18 years. During his career at CSC, Schaefer, the 2013 Nebraska State College System Teacher Excellence Award honoree, has worked to develop the college’s music business degree, served as Faculty Senate President, and continues to direct the Music Business Program.

Schaefer also performs and directs the CSC Jazz Birds, self-produced a series of instructional videos in basic percussion rudiments, and has held important regional and national offices with professional organizations.

Prior to joining the faculty at CSC, he taught music at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, California State University-Fresno and Glendale Community College. He previously played for the U.S. Air Force in the multi-nation North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) band, and was the Principal Percussionist of the Fresno Philharmonic, the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, the Green Lake Festival Orchestra, and a member of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra. As a jazz musician, he has performed in all styles, Dixieland, swing, bop, cool, and hard bop.

A professional percussionist, Schaefer has performed with Henry Mancini, Milton Berle, the Temptations, Suzanne Sommers, Ben Vereen, the Drifters, the Coasters, Cleo Laine, the Lennon Sisters, Melissa Manchester, Roger Williams, Charro, and Bobby Vinton, as well as Ice Capades, and the Ebony Fashion Show.

He has also recorded for Summit Records, Canyon Records and has a compilation of percussion ensembles. He contributed jazz vibe transcriptions and has had a drum set method book published.

Schaefer, a native of Deerfield, Illinois, earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education from Indiana State University and a Master’s of Music from the University of Colorado in Performance. His Doctor of Musical Arts is in Solo Performance from Arizona State University.

Schaefer and his wife, Susi, have one daughter, Nicci.