The University of Akron
Seraph Brass
Hailed by The Boston Musical Intelligencer as "outstanding" and "fearless," Dr. Elisabeth Shafer
is a dedicated orchestral, chamber, and solo performer. Dr. Shafer has performed with Seraph
Brass, Barclay Brass, CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Symphony in C, the Eastern
Connecticut Symphony, and the Nittany Valley Symphony. She has appeared as a guest soloist
with ensembles including The University of Akron Symphonic and Concert Bands, and the Perry
High School Symphonic Winds at the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference in 2019, and
will be featured as a guest soloist with the University of Akron Symphony Orchestra in the fall
of 2019. In 2015, Dr. Shafer won Honorable Mention in the International Trombone Association
Alto Trombone Competition. Dr. Shafer has given numerous solo recitals throughout the East
Coast, Midwest, and Southern portions of the United States. She has worked with esteemed
conductors Bramwell Tovey, Ken-David Masur, Valery Gergiev, and Peter Oundjian.
As a chamber musician, Dr. Shafer is a member of the Faculty Brass Quintet at The University
of Akron, and is a founding member of the Boston Trombone Project, a Boston-based
trombone chamber ensemble. Her trombone quartet, Hendrie's Heroes, was named First
Alternate in the 2014 International Trombone Association Quartet Competition. Dr. Shafer is
an avid early music and sackbut player, having collaborated in numerous ensembles including
historical performance department recitals at Boston University, the Yale Schola Cantorum
Orchestra, Yale Collegium Players, and Temple University Mozart Players.
Currently, Dr. Shafer serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Trombone at The University of
Akron. Prior to joining the faculty at The University of Akron, Dr. Shafer was a Teaching
Assistant at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Trombone Workshop, and a Teaching
Artist in the Music in Schools Initiative in New Haven, CT. She has conducted and arranged
music for the Boston University Trombone Choir, and the Boston University Tanglewood
Institute Trombone Choir. As a classroom teacher, she has taught aural skills and theory classes
for undergraduate and graduate students at The University of Akron, Boston University, and
Yale University.
A native of State College, PA, Dr. Shafer earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trombone
Performance from Boston University. She also received her Master of Music degree from Yale
School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University both in Trombone
Performance. Her primary teachers include Toby Oft, Scott Hartman, and Matthew Vaughn.
elisabeth.lea.shafer@gmail.com