David Schommer - Bandleader, Trumpet, Vocals: Born and raised in New Orleans, David received his first trumpet when he was 8 years old and has been playing ever since. He has performed with several bands in New Orleans including The Dukes of Sound, Horizon, Heart & Soul, The Crescent City Big Band, and most recently, the Big Easy's hottest new big band - Swingaroux!. He also had the opportunity of performing in the band for Marcel Evans (The Drifters) during a recent tour. Since moving to Jackson in 2004, David has been quite busy on the music scene. After joining the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band (2004), he went on to create (with a little help from his friends) Jackson's very own non-profit big band - Mississippi Swing! (2005). Always looking for interesting and unique musical projects, he created Jackson's very own Oompah Band (2006) for their annual Germanfest, and, until 2009, the only local Brass Band (2006) to perform in the nationally known Mal's Annual St. Paddy's Day Parade marching right along side the Sweet Potato Queens - the band winning the 2008, 2009 & 2010 Otha Turner Marching Award. In 2009, the Brass Band also performed in The Red Hat Parade, at the new Renaissance, in Ridgeland. . In addition to creating and performing with The Jackson All-Stars (2008), he has performed with Jackson's #1 Latin Band - Latinismo, The Musicians (featuring The Holly Brothers), Shadz of Gray, the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, and Mississippi Brass and Percussion. He created the 18-piece Madison All-Stars for Madison, The City's 2009 July 4th Celebration. He is a past member of the Mississippi Jazz Foundation and serves on the board of the Mississippi Community Symphonic Band.
Highlights
Moved to Jackson, Mississippi / Joined the MCSB (2004)
Founder, Mississippi Swing! (2005)
Founder, Mississippi Swing Brass Band (2006)
Founder, Mississippi Schwingen Oompah Band (2006)
The Dave Schommer Band (2006/2007)
Founder, The Jackson All-Stars (2008)
Founder, The Madison All-Stars (2009)
Founder, The Brother Martin Alumni Jazz Band (2009)
Otha Turner Marching Award - Mississippi Swing Brass Band (2008, 2009, 2010)
Richland "Key to the City" - Mississippi Swing! & The Jackson All-Stars (2009)
$25,000 Lowes Toolbox for Education Grant: Watkins Elementary (2009)
Founder, The Jackson All-Stars Brass Band (2010)
Employee of the Month: Watkins Elementary (2010)
Governor's Award - Watkins Playground Project (2010)
Grey Ferris Scholar (2010)
Watkins Elementary Leadership Award (2010)
Outstanding Educator Award, PPS / Community Foundation of Greater Jackson (2010)
Metro Jackson Teacher of the Year (2011)
Nominated, Mississippi Teacher of the Year (2011)
Nominated, Outstanding Elementary School Website Design (2011)
MAPE Partnership Excellence Award - Watkins / Southern Farm Bureau (2011)
Watkins Recycling Program: 1st in State: Keep Mississippi Beautiful (2011)
$1,000 MS Recycling Coalition Grant: Watkins Elementary (2011)
$5,000 Laura Bush Foundation Library Grant: Watkins Elementary (2011)
$25,000 Project Fit America Grant: Watkins Elementary (2011)
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Bandleader David Schommer recently performed with the
Swingaroux! Big Band
at the
New Orleans 2011 French Quarter Festival!
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Swingaroux!
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As seen in the Madison County Connection 2011
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At Delta Bear Festival with Shadz of Gray
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Hilton's Annual Hawaiian Islander Karaoke & Swim Party July 17, 2010
Hilton Title, Mike
Calcagno, Troy Legeaux, & David Schommer
Taking a solo...
Charlie Ramos, Mike Sidman, Hilton Title, Rocky Trosclair, Mike Calcagno, David Schommer, Chispa Roussel.
Mike Calcagno, Kieth Buccola, John Rohr.
Second Lining to The Saints!
Chispa Roussel
The Cupid Shuffle!
Hilton sings "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" while Elizabeth Koskie, & David Schommer look on...
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Cajun Fest 2010
2010 Brother Martin Alumni Jazz Combo. Not Shown: Charlie Diaz.
Dustin Hymel, Brother Martin, Trombone/Guitar and Dr. Roy Caruba, St. Aloysius 1944, Lead Trumpet
Ray Fransen, Cor Jesu 1966, Drums
Sal Suer, St. Aloysius 1951, Clarinet
Michael Calcagno, Brother Martin 1979, Bass
Arnaud Daigle, St. Aloysius
Sal, Mike and Arnaud
Nine alumni participated in this year's performance!
Ray Fransen owns the oldest and largest drum center in the New Orleans area!
Charlie Diaz, Brother Martin 1977, Vocals
Andy Gaudet, Brother Martin 2008, Drums
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Horizon Band. New Orleans, Louisiana (2000)
Performing with The Holly Brothers at the Jackson Zoo, April 2006.
Performing with Marcel Evans of The Drifters, New Years Eve, 2005.
Performing with Heart and Soul at Moe's Chalet, New Orleans, LA. (2003-2004).
Clowning around with Heart & Soul, New Orleans...(2003-2004)
Performing with the Brother Martin Alumni Jazz Combo at Cajun Fest, New Orleans, 2009.
At the St. Paddy Parade 2009! Photo by David Cox.
Performing with the Mississippi Swing Brass Band! in the Red Hat Parade, 2009.
Performing with the Mississippi Swing Brass Band!in the St. Paddy Parade 2009.
Performing with The Dowell Taylor Big Band at the Hilton for New Years Eve.
Performing with the Crescent City Big Band at the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.
Performing with Mississippi Swing!
Performing as The Dave Schommer Band in the courtyard at Broussards Restaurant, in New Orleans.
Performing with Latinismo. Jackson, Mississippi
Heart and Soul. New Orleans, Louisiana (2003-2004)
Swingaroux! Mandeville, Louisiana
With the cast of Dreamgirls. N.O.R.D. Theater, New Orleans, LA.
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Jubilee Jam 2009 w/Latinismo!
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"First up for me was Latinismo! at the Trustmark Stage. With at least 13 members on stage, they played a rousing set of Latin groove. The horns were sharp and the guitars had a saucy ring for the few people daring to dance in the sun. I hope that it was just the heat that made the crowd small. I had a lot of fun swaying my hips to the music and started imagining them giving my summer birthday party a bit of salsa swing. Latinismo! started wrapping up their set with a slinky cover of The Doors' "Light My Fire."
Jubilee Jam 2009
Jackson Free Press
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Performing with the Crescent City Big Band June 7, 2009
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French Quarter Festival 2009 w/Swingaroux!
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The Who Dats were out in full force for this year's French Quarter Festival! Swingaroux! was the lead-in band to New Orleans legend Ronnie Cole! Despite and ominous forecast, the rain held off for the entire day and the crowds were huge! The band played an eclectic mix of kickin' music that included everything from the Doc Severinson version of In the Mood to the House of the Rising Sun and....would you believe it?.....Freebird! Awesome gig!
Photos by Elizabeth Koskie.
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Brother Martin Cajun Fest '09
Cajun Fest 2009!!
The band begins to play as the gates open!
Before opening on Sunday...
Eight musicians participated in this year's Alumni Jazz Combo.
The Brother Martin Alumni Jazz Combo 2009!
Dr. Roy Carubba and David Schommer
Matthew Carl
Dustin Hymel
Dr. Roy Carubba solos...
Matthew Carl, Michael Calcagno and Dustin Hymel.
Mark Messina
Nick Loiacano
Gavin Courrege
Mark Messina
Matthew Carl and Michael Calcagno
Dustin Hymel takes a ride...
Nick Loiacano and Gavin Courrege
Michael Calcagno, David Schommer, Matthew Carl, and Mark Messina.
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Brother Martin Alumni Jazz Combo
Cajun Fest 2009
Lead Trumpet: Dr. Roy Carubba – St. Aloysius - 1944
Trumpet / Vocals: David Schommer - Brother Martin - 1979 (Bandleader)
Trombone: Mark Messina - Brother Martin - 2006
Tenor Sax: Matthew Carl - Brother Martin - 2006
Drums: Gavin Courrege - Brother Martin - 2008
Bass: Michael Calcagno - Brother Martin - 1979 (Assistant Bandleader)
Guitar: Dustin Hymel – Brother Martin - 2003
Piano: Nick Loiacano – Brother Martin - 1970
The Repertoire: Saints, Down By the Riverside, Darktown Strutters Ball, Bill Bailey, Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue, Just a Closer Walk With Thee, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Second Line, and Bourbon Street Parade.
Memorable Quote of the Day
"...If I'm not dead by next year, I'd like to do this again!"
- Dr. Roy Carubba, Lead Trumpet - 82 Years Old
St. Aloysius, Class of 1944
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Performing with The Just Doin' It Band at Mardi Gras, in New Orleans!
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