Douglas Schneider, B.M.
Instructor; Applied Saxophone (Classical), Staff Accompanist, and Diction

Office: LH 326
Phone: 503-725-3010
Email: dougs@pdx.edu

Douglas Schneider is the principal opera coach at Portland State University, having also served as staff accompanist at Northwestern and DePaul Universities. He served for several years as principal accompanist and coach for Portland Opera, having worked in similar capacities with Chicago Opera Theatre, Da Corneto Opera and Bowen Park Opera. He has performed over a thousand recitals as an accompanist, including collaborations with all the major instruments and voice. Sherrill Milnes, George Shirley, Steven Jordheim and Patrice Michaels are among the world-renowned musicians Mr. Schneider has accompanied in recital. In his career as accompanist, he has worked closely with George Manahan, music director of the New York City Opera, and Joseph Colaneri, conductor with the Metropolitan Opera. He has performed as pianist and organist with many ensembles, including the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, Ars Antiqua, Seraphim, Cantores in Ecclesia, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Orchestra. Mr. Schneider records for GIA and OCP records and also can be heard on numerous other compact disc recordings.

Mr. Schneider performs as organist and harpsichordist as well, currently serving as the Organist at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Portland. He previously was the Assistant Organist/Conductor at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, having also served as the Organist/Director of Music at Chicago’s St. Alphonsus Church. He is a founder of and harpsichordist/organist with the chamber ensemble Urban Baroque, now in its ninth season of concerts. Mr. Schneider has appeared as harpsichordist at Bach Week in Evanston and with the gamba ensemble Second City Musik on WFMT. He has conducted, often from the harpsichord, many baroque operatic and oratorio works with various ensembles.

As a teacher, Mr. Schneider has served on the faculty of the intensive Bel Canto Northwest International Vocal Institute. In addition to his position at Portland State University as principal opera coach, he is also the teacher of classical saxophone. A fine classical and jazz saxophonist, he was invited to compete in the International Saxophone Competition held in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Schneider’s jazz saxophone playing has been recognized by Downbeat magazine, from which he won an outstanding performance award. He is rightly known among saxophonists as perhaps the only saxophonist in the country that can also perform that repertoire as an accompanist. Among the artists he teaches, coaches and accompanies are many winners of various regional and national competitions. Mr. Schneider holds degrees from Lawrence University.