Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Dawn Marie Schafer.
Dr. Dawn Marie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was 5, I sat on my Grandfather’s piano bench and played one chord over and over again and pretended to teach music to my imaginary Kindergarten class. Growing up, I played the flute, sang, and had a few musical theater roles. My mentor was Vivien Jacobs Quam, my high school choir director, who encouraged me and supported me in becoming a music education major. (We are still friends to this day.) In, 1994 when I graduated from the Hartt School of Music I began a career inspiring and empowering people to make and love music. I began teaching choir, band, orchestra, and music theory in high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools in New Jersey as soon as I graduated. In 2008, my family moved to Georgia, where I specialized in middle school choir. I became active in the state music education association, gaining leadership opportunities, making exciting professional connections, and honing my skills as an educator. In 2019, my family again made a move to Austin, Texas, just as I was finishing my Master’s degree in Music Education at Boston University. I taught elementary school for 3 years and during that time self-published three children’s books in a series entitled “The Valiant Quests of the Knights of Musical Acres” in which kids can make music with the characters and the reader! In 2022, I transitioned back to middle school choir at Sycamore Springs Middle School in Dripping Springs. There, I led my choirs to sweepstakes trophies at the University Scholastic League (UIL) Choral Contests, was named Teacher of the Year in 2023-24, and was elected to a two-year position as Region 18 Vocal Division Chair for the Texas Music Educators’ Association (TMEA). That same year, the Austin Children’s Choir was looking for an Assistant Director. I interviewed and was hired to conduct a small group of 7 children between the ages of 5 and 8. By spring, I had 17 singers and was named Artistic Director for the next season, 2024-25. Now, I am proud to direct 50 children between the ages of 6 – 18 in the Austin Children’s Choir and take them on annual concert tours of Austin each April. In May of this year, I received my Doctorate in Music Education from Liberty University. Currently, during the school year, I teach Music at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos while maintaining my position as Artistic Director of ACC.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every journey has struggles. When I came into ACC with a vision for how it could grow, become more financially stable, and break into the music scene in Austin, there are always obstacles to overcome. While ACC has been operating since 1986, enrollment and financial stability took a hit during the pandemic. Recovery was difficult, as it was for many singing groups across the world. I communicated my vision with enthusiasm and did the hard work to show the board of directors how we could achieve growth, excellence, financial success, and notoriety. One staff member told me one day, “No one will ever be as enthusiastic about this group as you are.” We suffered turnover in the board of directors and staff for one year. I never gave up. I pursued the vision with full commitment, and today we are thriving! We have joyful children who tell their friends about ACC, who have learned how to enjoy music while entertaining audiences, and who transform audiences by performing established music and new works with confidence, poise, and enthusiasm.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Music Teacher. I have taught all levels and types of music throughout my 28-year career. Currently, I teach music to elementary school students at Blanco Vista Elementary School, direct the Wildcat Choir of 4th & 5th graders there, and I am the Artistic Director of the Austin Children’s Choir. I inspire people to pursue the joy of making music throughout their lives.
When I teach people music, I make sure they understand that THEY are the ones making it. I may wave my arms in front of them and give important feedback, but ultimately THEY make the sound. I also make sure parents and audiences know this. In my performances with choirs, I also try to pick some music that the audience will know so they can sing along. I believe that singing is a fundamental joy that every voice should engage in. We are just not meant to sit still, wait until the end of a song, and clap our hands. This is not a popular opinion among many choir directors, but I believe it and will defend it with anyone.
I am proud that my singers at ACC know that we are about joy and singing our hearts out. We do not put them through the “pressure of perfection,” which is a leading cause of depression in children today. We make fun music, sound pleasing to listen to, and encourage everyone everywhere we go to sing.
Another thing I love to do is partner with emerging composers to produce new works. Last year and this year, we partnered with the Sing Me A Story Foundation, which facilitates stories written by local children experiencing suffering written into song by a local composer, and then performed by a local performing group.
What sets me apart? I think deeply and reflectively about what I do and why I do it. I do not believe that children should be forced into a mold of stillness, perfection, and formalities set by the choral culture in order to be considered “good.” I believe everyone can sing and SHOULD sing, and that when given the freedom to sing from the heart, JOY will be the result for all who hear. We don’t need a world stage, or a prestigious award, or even someone shouting our praises to do that. It happens every time we are together.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
The Austin Children’s Choir will hold its first ever Gala event on Saturday, November 14th. At the Gala, we will sing the World Premiere of a new work by composer Kyra Hong in celebration of an Austin child!
We are celebrating our 40th Anniversary this year. As one of the only children’s choirs in Austin, people can not afford to miss seeing them perform. They will bring more joy than you expect.
Singing is not for the elite. It’s not just for those who “are good.” People across Austin tell themselves that “they can’t sing.” This is a lie people use to rob themselves of the deep joy singing brings. You can ask me, but ask one of my singers. They know.
Pricing:
- Membership in ACC is $600 for the year.
- Gala tickets go on sale for $200 sometime in Augusr.
- $36 Series of “The Valiant Quests of the Knights of Musical Acres”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinchildrenschoir.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinChildrensChoir
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/mrsjss
