Founder, Conductor and Artistic Director – Choral Arts Society of Southeastern WisconsinVersatility, one of Maestro Schatzman’s most respected qualities, has been the hallmark his programming from the beginning. Equally at home in the concert hall or the theater, Mr. Schatzman has led and prepared the chorus to perform masterworks of the classical repertoire and musical theater. In this, the CAS’s twenty-third season, he has led this ensemble in performances with the Racine and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras and developed a repertoire that includes many of the world’s finest works. In 2010, he led the CAS to its New York City debut presenting Glenn Edward Burleigh’s Nguzo Saba Suite at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.
Bringing premieres and lesser known works to our audience is also a passion of Maestro Schatzman. Maestro Schatzman and the CAS are committed to bringing you new works by living American composers, of both local and national stature.
Maestro Schatzman is deeply committed to educational outreach and support of youth in our community. Two outreach programs, What’s In A Song and Meet The Composer, have been part of the ongoing life of the CAS and the community are led by his initiative and ideas.
Maestro Schatzman further extended his commitment to area youth by founding and conducting the Kiwanis Chamber Singers (which he led for ten years from 1998-2008). The Chamber Singers is a high school-aged choir sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Racine and is in their twelfth season under the capable leadership of Fumi Nishikiori. The Chamber Singers have been frequent guests of the CAS. The choir is also frequent musical guests at Kiwanis regional, national and international conventions. Schatzman led them to acclaimed performances in Indianapolis and Montreal, Quebec and at numerous State conventions. Youth choirs from around the area are also frequent guests of the CAS and some can be heard on CAS’s compact disc Carols for Christmas III. Also in 2010, Maestro Schatzman will make his debut with SEWPA (SouthEast Wisconsin Performing Arts) conducting a performance of Bizet’s Carmen with local school aged performers, professional opera singers and members of the CAS.
Mr. Schatzman also lead the liturgical music program at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Racine, for 25 years from 1984 – 2009 where he built one of the premiere choirs in the diocese of Milwaukee. Schatzman twice served as musical coordinator for diocesan annual conventions and also served on the Diocesan Commission on Music & Liturgy. On several occasions his choir was featured on WTMJ television for broadcasts of Sunday Morning Worship.
After receiving his education at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, he has continued his studies with William Weinert of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, Margaret Hillis of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and Philip Brunelle of the Plymouth Music Series in Minneapolis.
Maestro Schatzman is a lifelong Racine resident where he lives with his wife of 34 years, JaneMarie, and his four sons, Stephen, Luke, Gabriel, Christopher and his grandson, Tai. He is also founder and Executive Director of Racine Vocational Ministry, an interdenominational job and training service.