Samuel Schaeffer
Sam Schaeffer is a jazz drummer, percussionist, educator, and composer hailing from Harrisonburg, Virginia located in the Shenandoah Valley. Sam graduated with honors from The State University of New York at Fredonia in December of 2022 with a BA in Jazz Studies. While at SUNY Fredonia, he studied privately with Dr. John Bacon (jazz drums) and Dr. Karolyn Stonefelt (vibraphone/classical percussion). He was a member of the Fredonia Jazz Orchestra and the 2-time Downbeat award-winning Fredonia New Jazz Ensemble, and received the Juliet J Rosch Scholarship, The Monroe-Poumitt Big Band Award, and the prestigious President’s Out of State Scholar Award.
Sam is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies at the renown Eastman School of Music where he studies jazz drums with Rich Thompson and composition with Dariusz Terefenko. Sam also plays with the Eastman New Jazz ensemble under the direction of Dave Rivello. Under his teaching assistantship, he teaches all secondary jazz drum set lessons to majors and non-majors at Eastman and the University of Rochester.
Sam is active as a drummer and percussionist on both the New York and Virginia jazz scenes. An accomplished and varied performer, Sam has played and worked with such diverse musicians as John D’Earth, Brad Leali, Derrick Gardner, Sal Valentinetti, Delefayo Marsalis, Stephanie Nakasian, Sherrie Maricle, Mike Rud, Kim Nazarian, Mike Gibbs, and many more. Sam also leads and composes for his own groups who have performed at the Fredonia Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz festival, and other numerous venues in both Virginia and New York.