Associate Musical Director

Dr. Benjamin D. Schneider returned to his hometown of Calgary in the Fall of 2013 after thirteen years studying, teaching and conducting at the post-secondary level in the United States, culminating in seven years as Director of Bands and Orchestra and Coordinator of Music Education at Jamestown University. He recently joined Jesse Heffernan and the staff of Notre Dame High School in “The Pride” to support their growing music program, continuing over twenty-two years with Calgary Catholic Schools as a clinician, guest teacher or music specialist.

Dr. Schneider has conducted youth performances at festivals in Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and across Canada and the United States.  He completed a doctoral residency at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University as assistant conductor of the Peabody Wind Ensemble and a student of Dr. Harlan Parker and Mo. Gustav Meier. His dissertation focused on the revisions of the works of French-American composer Edgard Varèse (1883-1965). Dr. Schneider previously served for two years on the State University of New York at Fredonia music faculty teaching theory, conducting, saxophone and both undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. As an ensemble conductor he directed the All College Band, the musical Damn Yankees, and guest conducted both student and faculty ensembles.

Dr. Schneider pursued graduate school following six years of part-time and three years of full-time teaching music in the Calgary school in Alberta, Canada.  During his master’s degree at the State University of New York Fredonia with Dr. Paula Holcomb, he was Assistant Conductor for a Hillman Opera production of Strauss’ De Fledermaus, and a Fredonia Symphony Orchestra performance and recording of Corigliano’s Clarninet Concerto. He also conducted scenes from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, premiered student compositions, and regularly guest conducted large ensembles. Dr. Schneider has worked with many prominent figures in festivals, workshops and symposia, including composers Samuel Adler, Leslie Bassett, Allan Bell, Warren Benson, Timothy Broege, Michael Daugherty, Johann de Meij, Lukas Foss, Libby Larsen, Timothy Mahr, David Maslanka, Bernard Rands, Alfred Reed, Gunther Schuller, Joseph Schwantner, Frank Ticheli, and Dana Wilson.  He enthusiastically supports the commissioning of new works from composers worldwide, including the WASBE-sponsored Dance Sequence (2002) by composer Marco Pütz of Luxembourg, an as you were (2013) for the Jamestown Wind Ensemble by Guggenheim-award winning American composer, Dr. Amy Kirsten.

Dr. Schneider is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Alberta Arts Study Grant, the Peabody Conservatory Carol Jean and John R. Young Conducting Scholarship, and the Medal of the Governor General of Canada. He has served as a guest conductor or adjudicator for numerous regional festivals, and as the content specialist to assess other post-secondary programs for the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. He continues to hold membership in both professional and honorary organizations promoting music and music education internationally.

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