Director
In 2022 Ascher Taylor-Schroeder took over as Guitar Department Director.
Ascher is a passionate performer and educator with a background in rock & jazz guitar and classical trumpet, in addition to his classical guitar training. In 2020 Ascher graduated Magna Cum Laude from Murray State University with his Bachelors of Music Education where he studied with professor Brent Webster. Upon graduation he also received the Outstanding Senior award from the Department of Music. Ascher also earned a Masters of Music degree with an emphasis in string pedagogy from the University of Louisville in 2022. Here, he was a teaching assistant for Dr. Stephen Mattingly and Xavier Jara.
Ascher has a particular passion for the commission of new music for the guitar and chamber music. This has led to collaborating to premier System Break for guitar duo, by Isaac R. Smith, 3 am on Bardstown Rd., by Jakob Giles in 2021, and derealization for electric guitar duo and percussion, by Tanner Jones in 2022, as well as performances with guitar quartet, trio, duo, violin duo, voice and string quartet.
In addition to being Guitar Department Director at the Youth Performing Arts School, Ascher has also been conductor and music director of the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra since 2021 and is a founding member of Chimera Quartet
In 2016, former Guitar Department Director Michael Kagen successfully passed an eight course curriculum for the first magnet program for the guitar in the state of Kentucky. Michael continues to be a great friend to YPAS Guitar. His efforts and vision are paramount to the success of the program which would not be possible without him.
Contact.
ascher.taylorschroeder@jefferson.kyschools.us