Rob Sheffer
Vice-President
Rob Sheffer’s music celebrates a balance of classical, rock, and jazz styles. As a guitarist Sheffer has performed for former First Lady Laura Bush, competed as a semifinalist in the First Lancaster International Guitar Competition, and performed Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez as a winner of the 2011 Grove City College Concerto Competition. His contemporary acoustic work “If I Could Fly” was recorded on the 2010 CD “WSAJ & SCA Collaborative.” His other compositions have been performed by various ensembles throughout Pennsylvania and New York. As a composer, Sheffer specializes in crossover guitar pieces and choral works, especially for chamber groups and men’s choirs. From 2014-2015 he held the title Composer in Residence for the Houghton Singers in Houghton, NY. Currently, Sheffer teaches as Adjunct Professor of Guitar at Washington & Jefferson College and serves as the Music & Worship Associate at Peters Creek Baptist Church. He also serves as the Vice-President of the Pittsburgh Classical Guitar Society.
Sheffer has performed in master class for David Russell. He has also studied in classes and special lessons with Jason Vieaux, Joe Negri, and Gary Hoey. His primary guitar teachers have been Mir Ali, Anton Machleder, and George Churm. For composition studies, he has worked with Sarah Hutchings and Richard Konzen.
Sheffer holds a B.M. in Voice and Guitar from Grove City College and earned his Masters of Music degrees in both Guitar Performance and Composition at Houghton College’s Greatbatch School of Music on full scholarship. As a graduate assistant he was the first student permitted to develop and teach his own music theory curriculum as an official class. As an educator, Sheffer’s pedagogical prowess extends even beyond the walls of the classroom and the studio. His guitar chord charts have been published in the “Music Master Pro” app for iPhone and iPad.
Rob Sheffer resides in Bethel Park, PA with his wife Maggie and daughter Maria. In his spare time, he enjoys studying philosophy, watching cooking shows, and eating sushi.