Paul W. Schultz (1938–2021)
A native of Richmond Michigan, Paul W. Schultz accrued a distinguished career as a teacher and conductor throughout the United States across five decades. He received both Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees from Central Michigan University, a Ph.D. in music education from Michigan State University, and studied conducting with Helmuth Rilling at the Internationale Bachakademie in Stuttgart, Germany. His choral ensembles consistently received the highest acclaim for their standards in repertoire, interpretation, and musicianship and appeared at the state, regional, and national conventions of both the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association.
Dr. Schultz taught in the public schools in Michigan for 20 years and served on the faculties of Tacoma School of the Arts, University of Puget Sound, and Michigan State University, retiring from teaching in 2006 after 44 years as a music educator. Dr. Schultz prepared and conducted the major choral presentations for the Third World Harp Congress in 1996. He also served as conductor with Tacoma City Ballet and was the founder and first conductor of the Tacoma Symphony Chorus.
Paul founded Northwest Repertory Singers in August 2001. NWRS quickly became one of the Puget Sound region’s most respected choral ensembles, dedicated to performing a wide variety of quality choral music at a high artistic level. Performances during their first decade received hearty acclaim and played to capacity audiences. He served as artistic director of the ensemble until his retirement in June 2018.
Dr. Schultz twice received the Distinguished Service Award given by the Washington American Choral Directors Association. He was the recipient of the prestigious American Choral Directors Association Northwestern Division Lifetime Achievement and Leadership Award in 2004.
Dr. Schultz was married to composer Dr. Donna Gartman Schultz.
Learn more about Dr. Paul W. Schultz through his written reflections from his final program.
Photo by Chip Van Gilder