Alumni

Harold Washington Professional Achievement Award

Ellis Schuman, BM '55

Ellis Schuman is a performing artist, composer and teacher, who, since 1985, has taught piano, harp, and composition at the Music Center of San Francisco. Born on May 25, 1931, in Chicago, Schuman received a Bachelor of Music degree from Roosevelt University’s Chicago Musical College in 1955 and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University the following year. He returned to Roosevelt as faculty of the Chicago Musical College from 1981 to 1984, and was pianist-harpist with Chicago's Musica Viva Quintet, and also harpsichordist with the touring Baroque Repertory Ensemble. During his Chicago years he received the Kate Maremont Foundation Teacher Award for his innovative work in music education. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Harp Society and as Vice-President of its Bay Area Chapter. Many of Schuman’s compositions and arrangements for the harp are widely performed and have been published by Lyon and Healy and International Music Publications. Major performances of his original chamber works were included in programs at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood, University of Chicago, Radio station WNYC-FM, New York City and concerts by the San Francisco New Century Chamber Orchestra.

Alumni