Rick Schadt is a freelance percussionist residing in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying percussion with Anthony Di Sanza, studio pedagogy with Teryl Dobbs, and Jazz & Composition with Les Thimmig. During that time, Rick was involved in numerous world and regional premieres of works for Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble including in 2011 the North American premiere of Per Nørgård’s massive work, “A Light Hour”. In 2010, Rick also performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention with the UW-World Percussion Ensemble as winners of the PAS World Percussion Ensemble Competition.

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Rick currently serves as adjunct faculty at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI where he teaches applied percussion lessons and serves as the drumline instructor for the Carroll University Marching Band. In addition to his roles at Carroll, Rick also teaches privately at his studio in Mukwonago, WI. His studio consistently has over 20 private students, many of whom are selected for regional/state honors ensembles, collegiate music programs, competitive DCI/WGI marching ensembles, and receive perfect scores/exemplary performer recognition at solo & ensemble. Actively involved in local schools, Rick has developed and continues to help teach the percussion curriculum for the 7th Grade/8th Grade/HS Concert Percussion classes in the Mukwonago Area School District. 

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Highly involved in the marching arts, Rick has more than a decade of performing experience at Lambeau Field as a member of the Tundra Line, the official drumline of the Green Bay Packers. He has taught several award-winning high school marching ensembles, including his current role as Percussion Caption Head for the Mukwonago High School Marching Band. Since 2012, his competitive ensembles have consistently won “Best Percussion” awards, being named circuit percussion champions five times, including Mukwonago’s most recent back-to-back WSMA State Percussion titles in 2022 and 2023. His ensembles have also captured overall circuit championships three times, most recently Lighthouse Brigade of Racine’s first outright MACBDA title in 2017. Often, Rick has served as a show designer, arranging winds and percussion and heading up visual design & drill writing. His ensembles regularly obtain the highest scores in the "Composition" sub-caption. His arrangements and original compositions have been performed at the Youth In Music Marching Band Championships in Minneapolis, MN, Winterguard International (WGI) Regionals, and other circuit championships.

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Equally comfortable in the concert hall, Rick performs with the Concord Chamber Orchestra and also composes and arranges for chamber ensembles and wind bands. He is passionate about chamber music, has served as the program director for Mukwonago’s Blue2 Percussion since its inception, and regularly participates in commissioning new percussion works. He has served as an adjudicator for percussion competitions and local solo & ensemble festivals. Rick continues to be an active member of the Percussive Arts Society.

Rick’s interests in music also extend into instrument repair and construction, including having built the 5-octave marimba that he uses daily for teaching. He also spends much of his free time watching sports or composing with assistance from his cat, Grump.

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Rick is an educational endorser of Salyers Percussion & Encore Mallets.