Dr. Frederick Schmidt, Director

Dr. Frederick Schmidt accepted the invitation to serve as the Conductor of the Rogue Valley Symphonic Band in June 2010. Upon retirement in May, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus of Music at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. A recipient of the Leonard Ledvina Award for Excellence in Teaching, his course responsibilities included clarinet and saxophone applied lessons, woodwind methods, advanced instrumental conducting, and student teacher supervision. In addition, Dr. Schmidt conducted the select St. Norbert College Wind Ensemble and various woodwind ensembles. In 1991, his conducting duties expanded when he founded the adult St. Norbert Community Band. During his 29-year career at St. Norbert College, his bands were selected to perform at 8 state and national music conventions, and participated in 7 international concert tours. Dr. Schmidt earned the M.A. in Woodwind Pedagogy and the Ph.D. in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied clarinet from Dr. Donald McGinnis, Dr. Robert Titus, and Mr. Joseph Lord. In addition, he studied saxophone from Dr. Burdette Green. During his 10-year career as an instrumental music teacher in the public schools of the state of Ohio, Dr. Schmidt taught in both the Logan and the Southwestern City School Districts. Prior to his appointment at St. Norbert College, he was an adjunct woodwind instructor at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Dr. Schmidt served as Director of the St. Norbert College Music Department for 10 years, and as the principal clarinetist with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra and the American Promenade Orchestra. In addition, he has performed as a member of the New Sousa Band. He can be heard playing principal clarinet on two compact disc recordings featuring the American Promenade Orchestra under the Klavier Records International label. He has conducted in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Dr. Schmidt is a Past President of the Wisconsin Bandmasters Association (WBA), and an active member of Music Educators National Conference (MENC), Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), Association of Concert Bands (ACB), International Clarinet Association (ICA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Pi Kappa Lambda.