Colonel Don Schofield

Dr. Don Schofield is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he teaches the History of Wind Literature and Applied Conducting. He is also an Active Duty Colonel in the United States Air Force, where he currently serves as the Commander and Conductor of The United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC. Colonel Schofield is responsible for all activities of this 184-member squadron including nearly 1,600 performances each year at locations such as The White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Kennedy Center, and venues throughout the world for the President of the United States, world leaders, and dignitaries.

Colonel Schofield was born in Atlanta, Georgia and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia, his Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting from Louisiana State University, and his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University. Prior to receiving his commission at Officer Training School in 1997, Colonel Schofield taught at Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia and Effingham County High School in Springfield, Georgia where he led a 275-member comprehensive band program to national and regional recognition. His previous commands include the United States Air Forces in Europe Band in Germany, the United States Air Force Academy Band at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Band of the Air Force Reserve at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and the Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Colonel Schofield also served as the Deputy Commander, 11th Operations Group at Joint Base Andrews, and the Director of Operations for The United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. In 2007, he led the United States Air Force Central Command Band, where he planned and led overseas performances for United States and coalition forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Africa, Kyrgyzstan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain in direct support of combat operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.

Colonel Schofield has conducted military bands, professional orchestras, and school bands throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. An advocate for new music, he has commissioned and premiered 41 works for wind band, orchestra, and choir from such composers as Eric Whitacre, Jim David, Kevin Day, Stephen Bryant, James Stephenson, Kim Archer, Jim Barnes, Shawn Okpebholo, and Johan de Meij. During the COVID pandemic, Colonel Schofield continued public and educational concerts with The United States Air Force Band by conducting and producing more that 300 broadcast and video products to connect with audiences worldwide, to include interactive educational livestream broadcasts viewed by more than 200,000 students. He has led international performances with artists such as Joshua Bell, Frank Tichelli, Dianne Shuur, Kid Rock, Little Big Town, Wycliffe Gordon, Kelly Pickler, Lee Greenwood, Chris Daughtry, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Christopher Jackson, Lonestar, Wynonna Judd, Amy Grant, Take 6, Diamond Rio, the Miracles, Gordon Goodwin, Allen Vizzutti, Megan Hilty, and Yuri Mynenko. Colonel Schofield has been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as a two-time Emmy Award Top Four Finalist for his musical leadership during internationally broadcast productions at the Grand Ole Opry.

Colonel Schofield’s leadership has been recognized by the United States Air Force by being named the United States Air Forces in Europe’s Public Affairs Communication Excellence Field Grade Officer of the Year, the United States Air Force Academy’s Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year, the Air Force Reserve Command’s Public Affairs Field Grade Officer of the Year, Air Mobility Command’s Band Officer of the Year, and Air Force Materiel Command’s Band Officer of the Year. Under his command, the United States Air Forces in Europe Band was named the winner of the 2017 Brigadier General Dalton Award for the Best Public Affairs Unit in the United States Air Force. In 2021, The USAF Band was awarded the Telley Award for the Most Viral Video in the World, reaching more than 200 million views with a broadcast recording featuring Lee Greenwood and Home Free. Colonel Schofield’s contributions resulted in The United States Air Force Band, the United States Air Force Academy Band, and the Band of Mid-America being awarded the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for military concert bands.