Musician 1st Class Brandon Schantz

Percussion

Musician 1st Class Brandon Schantz is a native of Quakertown, Pennsylvania. He received both Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Music degrees from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His teachers and mentors include Paul Evans, Timothy K. Adams, Jr., John Soroka, Andrew Reamer, Chris Allen, Ed Stephan, and Jeremy Branson.

Schantz held a one-year contract position with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for the 2010-2011 season and performed and recorded with the PSO on two European tours in 2011 and 2012. Additionally, Schantz has toured throughout North America and performed as a soloist with Pittsburgh’s River City Brass Band. Prior to enlisting as a musician with the U.S. Navy, Schantz appeared with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, New World Symphony, National Philharmonic, Erie Philharmonic, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Canton Symphony, and Manassas Ballet Theater. He has also performed with Pittsburgh-based rock group, Cello Fury, as well as with various regional and collegiate theater companies. In competition, Schantz was awarded Grand Prix Winner of the Percussive Arts Society’s 2007 Le Concours International de Caisse Claire held at the famed Paris Conservatory of Music. 

In January 2017, Schantz auditioned and was selected for assignment to the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Following recruit training at RTC, Great Lakes, he reported for duty to Annapolis where he performs as percussion instrumentalist with the marching band and ceremonial units, wind ensemble, brass ensemble, and Superintendent’s Combo. He also serves as Supply Government Purchase Card Holder and Wind Ensemble Leading Petty Officer.

Schantz’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, and the Armed Forces Service Medal. He was also awarded the Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Award in 2019-20.