Introducing the band

On trombone: Don Schessler

Donald Schessler grew up in a musical family in Laurel, Montana. His father's hobby was singing and playing violin, and his mother was a pianist. Donald started violin at age six and started trombone at age ten. He sang in school and church choirs. He played most of the highschool band instruments by end of graduation and received two scholarships in vocal and trombone to the School of Music at University of Montana. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education in June 1956 with Honors.

He traded his trombone toward the purchase of a car to get to Ft. Benning, GA to begin his service as an officer in the US Army. During his 30 year tenure in the Army, he sang in many civilian community and church choirs near military bases. Colonel Schessler also conducted and directed church and community choirs after retirement from the military service.

In 1996, he took up the trombone again at the prompting of a close friend who rented a trumpet. The trombone came easy to him even after a 40 year absence and he now plays in numerous bands, orchestras and ensembles. Now in his seventies, he considers this experience as "his second childhood".