Artistic Staff
Contact a staff member at directors@austinchildrenschoir.org
Dr. Dawn-Marie Schafer – Artistic Director
Dr. Schafer has been leading the Austin Children’s Choir since 2023 and is currently the Music Specialist at Blanco Vista Elementary School in San Marcos where she conducts a choir of 60 singers. She also works as assistant director for the Hays CISD Honor Choir.
Throughout her 27-year career, Dr. Schafer has been a music educator in New Jersey, Georgia, and Texas, served as Chair of the Georgia Sixth Grade Statewide Honor Chorus, Middle School Choral Chair for Georgia District 17, Region 18 Middle School Vocal Division of the Texas Music Educators Association, and Electives department lead at Sycamore Springs Middle School, where she was named Teacher of the Year for 2023-24. She has conducted other district honor choirs and been a presenter at state music education conferences. Her choirs have a long history of superior ratings at state evaluations.
She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The Hartt School of Music, her Master’s Degree in Music Education from Boston University, and her Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University.
In 2020, Dr. Schafer self-published a three-book children’s series, The Valiant Quests of the Knights of Musical Acres, which promotes music-making with families and young children. She has been married for 28 years to her husband John, and their three adult children, Hannah, Jonah, and Selah, live in the Austin area.
Nicholas Jimenez – Collaborative Pianist
Deeply committed to musical education, Nicholas is currently completing his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music.
Nicholas Jimenez is an active pianist, teacher, and composer dedicated to sharing the joy of music with students of all ages. He balances a busy private teaching studio with professional accompaniment work across Central Texas.
Beyond the classical stage, he is an accomplished recording artist; his original neoclassical instrumental music has earned over 2 million streams on Spotify. He is thrilled to collaborate with the choir and support these talented young voices!
2026-27 Board of Directors
Austin Children’s Choir is actively seeking contributing board members. Please email us at board@austinchildrenschoir.org if you’re interested in serving on the board.