Teren Shaffer ’09 wins prestigious American Prize in Conducting

Chapman University alumnus Teren Shaffer ’09 has been selected as the 2014 First Prize winner of The American Prize in Conducting — band/wind ensemble division.

Shaffer is director of
Orange County School of the Arts’
Classical Instrumental Music Conservatory and music director and conductor of the school’s Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble. In addition, he serves as general manager of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra-in-residence at Chapman, and is an adjunct faculty member in Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music.

At Chapman he studied with Daniel Alfred Wachs, associate professor in the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, and earned degrees in instrumental conducting, bassoon performance and music education.

“Teren was one of the hardest working students I’ve ever had the pleasure of teaching, as evidenced by his success since graduating,” Wachs said.

Additionally, OCSA’s Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble was selected as the 2014 First Prize winner of The American Prize in Band Performance.

The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit national competitions in the performing arts providing cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States at the professional, college/university, church, community and secondary school levels.