Dave Schroeder, B.M.E. University of Northern Iowa, M.M. New England Conservatory, D.A., New York University, is a multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, historian, and author of two books entitled From The Minds of Jazz Musicians: Conversations with the Creative and Inspired, Vol. I & II, (Routledge Press), along with published articles in JazzIt Magazine, IAJCR Journal, IAJE Journal, and the Huffington Post. Schroeder is also the creator and host of the NYU Jazz Interview Series on YouTube and NYU JazzCast podcast series with over a million followers.
In 2021 Schroeder received national attention when his composition Stand for Change, with lyrics by Phil Galdston, was recorded by Vanessa Williams and Broadway’s Black Theatre United. He has performed and/or recorded with such iconic artists as Tony Bennett, Tom Scott, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Teo Macero, Toots Thielemans, Airto Moreira, Oscar Castro-Neves and Lenny White, to name a few. He is the artistic director for Combo Nuvo, the NYU Jazz Faculty-in-Residence Ensemble performing alongside such jazz artists as Lenny Pickett, Tom Scott, Billy Drewes, Lenny White, Lou Marini, Paul McCandless, Rich Shemaria, Brad Shepik, Mike Richmond, and John Hadfield. The group appears regularly at landmark NYC music venues including the Blue Note Jazz Club and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has been featured with the Costa Rica National Symphony, The United Arab Emirates Philharmonic in Abu Dhabi, and in Ulaanbaatar with the Morin Khuur Ensemble; the National Symphony of Mongolia.
Schroeder has served as Chair of the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions at NYU Steinhardt and as the Director of Jazz Studies for sixteen-years. As director, he developed an interactive musical environment between his students and artist/faculty, taking advantage of NYU's proximity to legendary jazz venues and other music industry opportunities throughout NYC. His interest in combining the power of music with climate change issues is demonstrated in his project One World Suite. Along with his group Combo Nuvo, One World Suite + 500 Harmonicas has been performed frequently at climate change events in Washington D.C. as well as for the United Nation’s International Day of Peace in Washington Square Park, and the NYU 2040 NOWsustainability week in Greenwich Village. The finale of the suite includes Schroeder’s composition The Oceans where he teaches the audience to play harmonica along with the group to reinforce the idea that “through music, everyone has a voice.”