About the Directors
Music Director-Conductor
Richard H. “Dick” Schroeder
Dick started playing trumpet at age 13. He
played in the High School band, orchestra, and dance band in his
hometown, Wausau, Wisconsin. After graduation, Dick entered the US
Army and served in Korea, where he played trumpet with the 2nd
Infantry Division and 8th US Army Bands. After his discharge, he
studied at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), earning his
Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music Education. He was a student
conductor of the University Concert Band, and president of Phi
chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, Sinfonia, national music fraternity. After graduating, Dick conducted three bands,
two jazz ensembles, and taught electronic music at Newman High
School in Wausau, Wisconsin for 16 years. During this time the band
program became one of the most outstanding in the state. In 1972,
the Newman "Marching Cardinals" were selected to represent the state
of Wisconsin at the Olympic Band competition in Wiesbaden Germany.
The band won first place and was awarded the honor of playing at the
Opening of the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Dick
conducted jazz ensembles for the University of Wisconsin (Stevens
Point) Summer Music Camp in 1972 and for the National Catholic Band
Directors Association Music Camp at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI) in
1973. He was music director for Broadway shows produced by the
Wausau Community Theater during the 60s and 70s and, for five years,
acted as chairman of the Central Wisconsin Metropolitan Opera
Committee. In 1973 he composed the music for “A Bedtime Story" (book
and lyrics by Roger Mergandahl) for the University of Wisconsin’s
(Marathon Campus) annual ’Campus Capers’. From 1950 till 1974, he
fronted and played in various jazz and dance bands, and performed in
the Kelly & Miller Brothers Circus band.
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In 1974, the Schroeder's moved to Norfolk, Virginia. Dick taught
band and orchestra for 3 years at Granby High School, where he
organized the first jazz ensemble in the Norfolk City Schools. He
conducted the student jazz ensemble and taught music theory at the
College of William and Mary (Williamsburg) Summer Band Camps from
1974 through 1978.
After moving to Sterling, Virginia in
1979, Dick founded and was the conductor of the Loudoun Jazz
Ensemble. He also served as an associate conductor of the
Loudoun Concert Band until his retirement in 2001. Upon
retirement, he and his family moved to Moyock, North
Carolina. Dick and his wife, Karen, joined the Hampton Roads
Metro Band, where Karen plays in the trumpet section and is
the band’s librarian. In April 2005, Dick became conductor
and music director.
Ralph Spoettle |
