Sharyn Schafer-Worcester

Instructor
Music Theory

Email: ses8555@ksu.edu

Sharyn Schafer-Worcester has a diverse and extensive career in music education, performance, and adjudication throughout Kansas, including Color Guard choreographing and teaching across the Midwest. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree, a Master of Music Education in Instrumental Conducting, and is currently ABD within the Doctor of Philosophy program in Curriculum and Instruction, all from Kansas State University, where she studied under the direction of Dr. Frank Tracz, Director of Bands Emeritus, Dr. Alex Wimmer, Director of Bands, and Dr. Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter, Associate Professor of Horn. Sharyn previously served as a Graduate Assistant with the Kansas State University Bands, where she assisted in all aspects of the program, including conducting, teaching, drill writing, organization, and administration of the concert bands, athletic bands, and recruitment and fundraising events.

Prior to continuing her studies, Sharyn served as the Lead Academic Advisor for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at K-State. In this role, she facilitated the academic progress for all undergraduate majors and minors in these degree tracks. As part of this work, in 2019, she presented "Music Beyond High School" at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop to provide resources for educators to prepare their students for college music programs or careers. Additional duties included membership in the Music Course and Curriculum Committee and the Music Recruitment Committee, as well as advising Sigma Alpha Iota, the International Music Fraternity for Women. 
 
Sharyn also previously served nine years as Instrumental Music Director at Junction City High School where her teaching duties included marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, music theory, music appreciation, and piano classes. Her bands have performed across Kansas and the United States including the Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Tempe, Arizona, and the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee.   
 
Sharyn performs as a member of the horn sections in the Manhattan Municipal Band and the Salina Symphony, where she is an appointed member of the Musicians Committee. She has performed in a myriad of musical pit orchestras throughout Kansas and Oklahoma.
 
Sharyn resides in Manhattan, Kansas, with her fellow music educator husband, Ben, their son, Harley, and their husky/shepherd, Riley.