Robert John Shafer, Jr. (born January 1, 1946) is a Grammy Award-winning"Complete Nominations in Classical Music"
''Billboard Magazine'', Arts & Music section, January 22, 2000, pg. 51. Retrieved: November 21, 2011.

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

conductor, classical

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

,"WETA Conversations: Robert Shafer"
WETA 90.9 FM Radio (Arlington, VA), April 14, 2009. Retrieved: November 20, 2011. Excerpt: "The program will feature the world premiere of a new work by Robert Shafer, Lux Aeterna."

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

Ericson, Raymond, "Madrigal Program by Madison Singers," ''New York Times'' (newspaper), June 17, 1969, pg 39. Excerpt: "...the Madison Madrigal Singers, an ensemble from the James Madison High School. This year the eight girls and five boys were led by Robert Shafer..."Hughes, Alan, "Music: Young Songsters," ''New York Times'' (newspaper), June 23, 1974, Section GN, pg 43. Excerpt: "The James Madison High School in Vienna, Va., has had a vocal music program of high quality for several years, and from time to time its Madison Madrigal Singers have performed here with great success….Robert Shafer""The Green Room: The Choir Boys"
By Erica R. Hendry, editor, ''Vienna Patch'', Vienna, Virginia, January 20, 2011. Retrieved: November 20, 2011. and church musician (pianist, organistSacred Music: Journal of the Church Music Association of America, dedicated to the restoration of the sacred in Catholic liturgical life, Richmond, VA, Volume 107, Issue 4, Winter 1980, pg. 24. Excerpts: "The series concludes in April with music for…organs with Robert Gorgan, J. Courtney Hay, Joseph O'Donnell and Robert Shafer as organists."; "Mr. Shafer is director of music for the shrine."Pan pipes of

Sigma Alpha Iota Sigma Alpha Iota () is a women's music fraternity. Formed to "uphold the highest standards of music" and "to further the development of music in America and throughout the world", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its m ...

, International Music Fraternity (journal), Volumes 68-69, 1975, Pg. 22. Excerpts: "A concert was given in tribute to National Honorary Member Nadia Boulanger by presenting music of her students by her students. J. Reilly Lewis, organist / Robert Shafer, conductor"; "Other numbers were Acclamation and Song for organ solo by Robert Shafer."). He has served as artistic directorKuehner, Cathy, Sun Staff Writer. Performance:
Shafer and his new choir debut
Artistic Director Robert Shafer and the City Choir of Washington perform in Alexandria," ''The Shenandoah Sun'', Shenandoah University Newspaper, Winchester, VA, Vol. 15, No. 11, Wednesday, November 7, 2007. of the City Choir of Washington since its launch in September 2007.

Early life

Shafer was born on January 1, 1946, in Mooresville, North Carolina, the son of Col. Robert J. Shafer,

USAF The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

(Ret). He started studying piano at age 5. Shafer moved with his parents to Germany in 1951, where they were stationed as part of the United States Air Force. His family settled in Vienna, Virginia, in 1954.

Education

Shafer graduated from James Madison High School, in Vienna, Virginia, returning to teach there after college. In college, he earned a B.M. in piano performance and an M.M. in music composition from

The Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private university, private Catholic church, Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution ...

.Faculty Bio
''Shenandoah University''. Excerpt: "Professor of Music (Choirs), Artist in Residence, Vocal-Choral Division." Retrieved November 20, 2011. Shafer studied music composition and conducting for nine summers with

Nadia Boulanger Juliette Nadia Boulanger (; 16 September 188722 October 1979) was a French music teacher and conductor. She taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century, and also performed occasionally as a pianist and organist. From a ...

at Le Conservatoire Américain, France.

Career highlights

As an educator, Shafer's work at James Madison High School attracted national attention, especially for his conducting a first-rate madrigal group. He remained on the high school faculty from 1968 to 1975. From 1972 to 2007, Shafer was music director of The Washington Chorus, a leading choral ensemble in the U.S. capital. When he served as music director of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, he composed and conducted a setting of ''Tu es Petrus'' in honor of

Pope John Paul Pope John Paul is the name of two Popes of the Roman Catholic Church and the only papal name with two names: *Pope John Paul I (1978), named after his predecessors John XXIII and Paul VI; died 33 days after his election *Pope John Paul II (1978&ndas ...

’s October 1979 visit to Washington, D.C. In 1983, Shafer was appointed artist-in-residence and professor of music at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.

Awards

Shafer won first prize in composition at Le Conservatoire Américain in 1969. In 1989, he was honored by the

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV was established by the Governor and General Assembly in 1956. Its mission, which is outlined in the Code of Virginia§2 ...

with an Outstanding Faculty Award for his outstanding public service, research, and teaching. In February 2000, Shafer was honored by the

National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated NARAS) is an American learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is famous for its Grammy Aw ...

with a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

for ''Best Choral Performance'' for a live-performance recording of

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

’s ''War Requiem''.

Compositions

* ''Lux Aeterna'', Performance Debut: April 2009. * ''The Mother and the Lamb'' (anthem), Performance Debut: December 2010. * ''The Annunciation'', Performance Debut: December 2014.

Recordings

* ''Dvorák: Stabat Mater / Psalm 149.'' Naxos Classical Music Catalog. Release Date: 24 Sep 2002.
Dvorák: Stabat Mater / Psalm 149
'' Conductor: Robert Shafer. Orchestra/Ensemble: The Washington Chorus and Orchestra. Label: Naxos Classical Music Catalog. Catalog No.: 8.555301-02, Number of Discs: 2. Retrieved: November 20, 2011. * ''Berlioz: Requiem.'' Gothic Records. Release Date: 6 May 2003.

'' Composer: Hector Berlioz. Conductor: Robert Shafer. Performer: Byron Jones, Tenor. Orchestra/Ensemble: The Washington Chorus and Orchestra, Shenandoah Conservatory Choir. Label: Gothic Records. Catalog No.: G-49212, Number of Discs: 2. * ''Britten: War Requiem.'' Composer: Benjamin Britten. Gothic Records. Re-Release Date: 10 May 2005.

'' Composer: Benjamin Britten. Conductor: Robert Shafer. Label: Gothic Records. Re-Release Date: 05/10/2005. Orchestra/Ensemble: National Symphony, Washington, D. C., Washington Chorus, Shenandoah Conservatory Choir, Maryland Boy Choir. Catalog No.: G-49241, Number of Discs: 2. Note: Earlier release was self-produced by The Washington Chorus. * ''Noel: A Musical Feast/A Loft & Gothic sampler.'' Gothic Records, Release Date: 18 Oct 2005.

'' Conductor(s): Robert Shafer, et al. Orchestra/Ensemble: Washington Chorus. Label: Gothic Records. Release Date: 10/18/2005. Catalogue No: G-49244, Number of Discs: 1. Retrieved: November 22, 2011. * ''The Very Best Of Dvorák.'' Naxos Classical Music Catalog, Release Date: 31 Oct 2006.
The Very Best Of Dvorák
'' Conductor(s): Robert Shafer, et al. Orchestra(s): National Symphony Orchestra, et al. Label: Naxos Classical Music Catalog. Release Date: 10/31/2006. Catalogue No: 8.552139-40, Number of Discs: 2. Retrieved: November 22, 2011.

References

External links

Official Bio
- City Choir of Washington Website {{DEFAULTSORT:Shafer, Robert Musicians from Washington, D.C. American choral conductors American male conductors (music) Living people Catholic University of America alumni Grammy Award winners 1946 births 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century American male musicians