Kathy Schaw
Alto Saxophone,
Flute, and Piccolo
Williston
Member Since 2013
Williston
Member Since 2013
How long have you played with WTB, and how did you come to join us? About 10 years ago, I somehow got involved in the WCS musical, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. I hadn't played since college, and even then I'd only barely ever played in my life, but it sounded like fun. Turns out it was, so I thought I'd try WTB to keep playing. I've been here ever since! Right from the start, WTB was incredibly welcoming despite my relative lack of experience!
Which instruments do you play? I play Alto Flute for WTB, and Flute/Piccolo with other local bands. I also recently picked up soprano sax and am learning to play the clarinet. I also play a tiny bit of guitar and piano.
Do you play in any other local bands? Yes! I tend to love to join bands to play as much as I can, so I also play with Hinesburg Community Band, Fairfax-Fletcher-Westford Band, Milton Community Band, and Waterbury Community Band. It's great because they all offer such entirely different experiences! Each summer we also play with Interlochen's adult Symphonic Band Camp for a week at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Last summer I got to go to two additional adult band camps: BCFAM (Band Camp for Adult Musicians, Juniata College, PA, and New England Adult Music Camp in Sydney, Maine. I also play with the Green Mountain Sax Ensemble! Such incredible experiences!
Are you originally from Vermont? No, but I'd like to have been! I grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts, then moved to Michigan for college and later lived two years in Richmond, Virginia. But we've lived in Vermont for the past 37 years. Vermont has always felt most like home!
What kinds of things do you like to do when you aren't playing music?
Professionally, I'm an elementary Math Interventionist for Williston Schools.
Personally: Mostly I prefer to play music these days! But we also enjoy kayaking, and, If given no limits, you'd likely find me camping and exploring waterfalls in national parks or hanging out on the rocky coast of Maine!
I'm also a bit of a graphic designer. "Fun" for me is creating new math games for our K-2 students in Williston. I'm an elementary teacher, but before that I got my undergraduate degree and spent five years in Printing Management, so I manage to combine both worlds by designing new games and I get to watch kids engage in math in a fun way!
What else should we know about you? I suppose you should know I'm probably the least skilled/experienced in the band, but I love to play just about more than anything. Music fascinates me, so I love to learn all I can about different instruments.
But most importantly, you should know you'll find my best friend (and husband) in the back of the band. Our equipment manager/librarian, Bob (Trumpet) and I do everything together, and always have since we met 42 years ago! Our son, Zach, who is a far better musician than we will ever be, used to play clarinet and sax and lives in Maine these days.