Deb Schaaf

A native of New Jersey, Deb has quickly built a reputation as an energetic and knowledgeable teacher and clinician within the thriving Seattle Jazz Education scene. Deb’s bands have won top solo, combo, ensemble and sweepstakes trophies at festivals and competitions throughout the Western United States, as well as 2018 and 2019 Outstanding Performance Awards from DownBeat Magazine. Her band was also selected to perform at the 2020 JEN Conference in New Orleans. In 2016, she was nominated by her students and was one of 20 winners nationwide of the 21st Century Fox/ Give a Note Foundation MusicEd Idol Award.

She was the founding director of the Jane Addams Middle School Music Department, has served in leadership roles on writing teams for Curriculum and Assessment, and was a Seattle Public Schools Mentor Teacher. She has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra on the Education and Equity & Outreach Committees and is the bari player for Jazz Night School’s Big Band Blue.