About
David Schumacher is Director of Fine & Performing Arts for Pentucket Regional School District. His students have earned top awards at the Berklee, UNH, and MAJE Jazz Festivals, spots in District, All-State, and All-National ensembles, and acceptance into top music schools throughout North America.
Published contributions include JazzTimes, JazzEd, and SBO magazines, Teaching Music, the Boston Globe, and music education journals throughout New England and New York. He has presented at music education conferences in MA, VT, NH, and PA, as well as for NAfME and the Eastern Division. He served a three-year position as manager for the MMEA All-State Jazz Band, and guest conducted the CDMMEA Jr. District Jazz Band in April 2022.
Schumacher holds a MM in Jazz Studies from NEC with High Honors and Distinction in Performance. He studied with Bob Brookmeyer and Branford Marsalis.
David has been a member of the BMI Jazz Composers' Workshop led by Jim McNeely and Mike Abene, and was co-leader of Sound Assembly in New York City for over a decade. A 17-piece collective of New York's finest players featuring the original compositions of David Schumacher and JC Sanford, Sound Assembly's debut album Edge of the Mind was released to rave reviews:
“Taking the angular bravado of Charles Mingus and re-imagining it for the 21st century…“Edge of the Mind” displays an energetic big band who has evolved to a place where they can make musical violence sound romantic.”
- CD Baby (where they were Editor’s Pick and Top 10 Jazz Album for 2009)
"This dynamic 17-piece jazz orchestra delivers heady, modernist fare...ranging from the formidable...to the majestic...to the ethereal." - Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes
"These are in essence thought-provoking works that command one's unwavering awareness and consideration. If due diligence is given, the rewards can be sizable…It's an ample meal…easily digested by epicures." - All About Jazz
“The orchestration is on point. Sounds great!” - Branford Marsalis
In addition to his jazz orchestra in NYC, David’s compositions have been commissioned and performed by artists, bands, and schools across the country, including at the Kennedy Center and Jordan Hall.
Published contributions include JazzTimes, JazzEd, and SBO magazines, Teaching Music, the Boston Globe, and music education journals throughout New England and New York. He has presented at music education conferences in MA, VT, NH, and PA, as well as for NAfME and the Eastern Division. He served a three-year position as manager for the MMEA All-State Jazz Band, and guest conducted the CDMMEA Jr. District Jazz Band in April 2022.
Schumacher holds a MM in Jazz Studies from NEC with High Honors and Distinction in Performance. He studied with Bob Brookmeyer and Branford Marsalis.
David has been a member of the BMI Jazz Composers' Workshop led by Jim McNeely and Mike Abene, and was co-leader of Sound Assembly in New York City for over a decade. A 17-piece collective of New York's finest players featuring the original compositions of David Schumacher and JC Sanford, Sound Assembly's debut album Edge of the Mind was released to rave reviews:
“Taking the angular bravado of Charles Mingus and re-imagining it for the 21st century…“Edge of the Mind” displays an energetic big band who has evolved to a place where they can make musical violence sound romantic.”
- CD Baby (where they were Editor’s Pick and Top 10 Jazz Album for 2009)
"This dynamic 17-piece jazz orchestra delivers heady, modernist fare...ranging from the formidable...to the majestic...to the ethereal." - Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes
"These are in essence thought-provoking works that command one's unwavering awareness and consideration. If due diligence is given, the rewards can be sizable…It's an ample meal…easily digested by epicures." - All About Jazz
“The orchestration is on point. Sounds great!” - Branford Marsalis
In addition to his jazz orchestra in NYC, David’s compositions have been commissioned and performed by artists, bands, and schools across the country, including at the Kennedy Center and Jordan Hall.