Fred Schactler

Fred Schactler

Born into a musical family, Fred Schactler completed his first full-orchestra arrangement while still in high school. Fred attended the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia, graduated early, and spent the rest of his military service with the 21st Army Band at Ft. Lewis, Washington.

Fred then launched a performance career, performing on piano in clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Early career highlights included arranging, directing, and performing in several national tours and arranging and scoring “A Tribute to Judy Garland” for the London Palladium.

A move to New York City opened new doors for Fred, employed as backup pianist for the musical “A Chorus Line” on Broadway and performing with music legends Little Anthony, Leslie Gore, and Bobby Rydell—and as a regular at the Stage Door Canteen. Fred also recorded his first album in New York, a collection of piano solos.

Over the years, Fred has worked as music director/bandmaster, band leader, guest entertainer, and musician—and has written and scored production shows—for numerous cruise lines including Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruises Australia, P&O Cruises UK, Princess Cruises, and Sundance Cruises.

In the Pacific Northwest, Fred’s company, The Fred Schactler Bands, has provided musical entertainment for corporate and other special events. He co-wrote and directed “A Tribute to Duke Ellington,” presenting the two-hour show throughout the Northwest, and he arranged and directed a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber for the Paramount Theater in Seattle.

For several seasons, Fred was music director for the Seattle Seahawks—responsible for auditioning and hiring musicians, writing more than 20 new dance arrangements each week for the 11-piece band to play for the Sea Gals, and coordinating on-field band performance with radio and television.

Fred is currently writing and doing solo piano work around the Seattle area.