School of Music welcomes new faculty to key positions

The Fredonia School of Music has appointed two new faculty members – Don Marrazzo and Dr. Emily Schaad – that it considers to be exceptional additions to the music faculty.

“Professor Marrazzo and Dr. Schaad bring strong credentials, rich experiences and fresh perspectives to their new roles at Fredonia,” said School of Music Dean David Stringham. “They will further strengthen our School of Music's outstanding faculty, enhancing our ability to serve our current and future students as well as communities beyond our campus. I am grateful to our colleagues who served on search committees, Professors Harper and Rose for leading those committees, and to Dr. Sarah Hamilton for shepherding both of these searches during her tenure as Interim Dean.”

“Professor Marrazzo and Dr. Schaad bring strong credentials, rich experiences and fresh perspectives to their new roles at Fredonia. They will further strengthen our School of Music's outstanding faculty, enhancing our ability to serve our current and future students as well as communities beyond our campus.” – School of Music Dean David Stringham

Mr. Marrazzo joins the School of Music as Director of Opera Studies, Hillman Opera Producer and Assistant Professor of Voice from his most recent position as Head of Vocal Studies and Professor of Voice at the Musical Horizons Conservatory in Athens, Greece.

Marrazzo previously enjoyed tenures as Head of the Classical Voice Department and Professor of Voice at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Director of Casting and Artistic Operations for Glimmerglass Opera and Executive Director of Astral Artists. His students perform internationally, are accepted into major opera studios and training programs and win awards at important competitions.

Additionally, Marrazzo has served as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and given masterclasses for many institutions that include the Graduate Vocal Arts Program at Bard College Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music and the Royal Danish Academy of Music.

Marrazzo holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and an M.M. in Classical Voice Pedagogy and Performance and an M.F.A. in Voice Pedagogy for Musical Theatre from Penn State University.

“We are thrilled to have Don Marrazzo joining our faculty and leading the Hillman Opera program. Don’s years of experience at the highest levels of the opera world both in the U.S. and abroad will be invaluable to Fredonia’s Voice students and to the future of Hillman Opera,” agreed search committee members that included Associate Professor Angela Haas and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Paul Mockovak (Theater and Dance), SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Julie Newell, Assistant Professor James Harrington and committee chair Professor Joe Dan Harper.

Dr. Schaad, who joins the School of Music as Director of Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music. started her career on violin and viola, attending The Juilliard School and earning a B.M. in Viola Performance from the Curtis Institute of Music. Schaad holds an M.A. in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State University and a D.M.A. in Music Education from Boston University. Most recently, she was Director of Orchestral Activities at Clemson University and orchestra conductor at South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.

Schaad has acted as music director of Asheville (North Carolina) Symphony Youth Orchestras and Greenville (South Carolina) County Youth Orchestras and is a founder of Stringendo, Inc. and Strawberry Hill Fiddlers, both of New York. Her ensembles have performed at conferences, competitions, evaluation festivals and in schools, concert halls, and castles. Schaad has taught elementary, middle and high school strings in New York state and is a frequent guest conductor for region and festival orchestras.

Additionally, Schaad has been a member of the viola sections of Asheville Symphony, Greenville Symphony and Hudson Valley Philharmonic. A seasoned fiddler, Schaad has taken first place in fiddle and old-time band at numerous fiddlers conventions, and has released several string band recordings.

"I feel like we won the lottery with the appointment of Dr. Schaad – someone equally at home with a baton or a fiddle in hand,” said Professor David Rose, search committee chair. “She'll bring a wide array of musical expertise, amazing ears and a big heart to all she does here at Fredonia. We're excited to see where she'll take our orchestral ensembles in the coming years."

Members of the search committee also included Professor Paula Holcomb, Associate Professor Richard Webb, staff accompanist I-Fei Chen, Professor Barry Crawford and Assistant Professor Adam Luebke – all of the School of Music.