Dear Colleagues,

I share with you sad news from Peck School of the Arts Dean Scott Emmons, that he shared with PSOA faculty and staff earlier this week:

I’m sad to inform you that Will Schmid, retired Music Education Professor and Music Department Chair, died peacefully July 1 in Milwaukee. Will, a national leader in music education, was an important mentor to me personally and was a great friend to many of us on the UWM campus.

As was written about Will in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “A thunderstorm marked the moment he went to join his recently-departed sweetheart Ann. Will was a husband, father, grandfather and friend known for indefatigable hope, positivity and patience; an internationally-renowned author of over 100 books for Hal Leonard Publishing and others; longtime University of Wisconsin Milwaukee music professor and chair; president of Music Educators National Conference; founder of World Music Drumming Workshops. Along with Ann, he brought music and love to the world, got people singing, playing and drumming-and loved Milwaukee. He is greatly missed.”

Details on a memorial will be announced on CaringBridge.org.

Our condolences to Will’s family and to the many others whose lives he touched.

Take care,
Johannes

Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs