Nicholas Schefstad (BM ’22) will pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance on a full-tuition scholarship beginning in the fall of 2024. Only one DMA organ applicant is accepted per year at the University of Notre Dame. Nicholas will serve at a local Catholic church as a graduate assistant, which includes a generous stipend and health insurance. Mr. Schefstad has a variety of experience working in both Catholic and Protestant traditions. Nicholas has collaborated extensively with large choirs and Gregorian chant scholas of the Catholic Novus Ordo Mass and Traditional Latin Mass. His doctoral research and organ recitals will include a wide variety of repertoire from these sacred traditions. 

Nicholas is a current Master of Sacred Music student at the University of Notre Dame studying with Dr. Kola Owolabi. Several courses studied at Notre Dame include hymn playing, improvisation, counterpoint, church history, and liturgical planning. Mr. Schefstad has also studied Gregorian chant with notable American musicologist, Peter Jeffery. Nicholas began his passion for the organ as an active member in the Central Florida Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He completed undergraduate studies with Dr. Boyd Jones at Stetson University on scholarship. Nicholas graduated magna cum laude in May of 2022 and is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. He was on the dean’s list every semester of undergraduate studies. Throughout his time at Stetson, Nicholas held two simultaneous church positions as organist, pianist, singer, and choral conductor/director. Nicholas has also collaborated extensively with the Stetson University Symphonic Band and Concert Choir as organist and performed internationally with the Stetson University Chamber Orchestra. He is currently the graduate assistant organist and conductor for the world-renowned Notre Dame Folk Choir and serves alongside Grammy-award winning and Billboard chart-topping composer, conductor, jazz pianist, and director, Dr. J.J. Wright. Nicholas’s responsibilities with the Folk Choir include playing organ/conducting for Mass, leading full rehearsals, and helping choir members create and perform new choral music. He is also an assistant organist at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. 

Mr. Schefstad will travel to Rome and the Vatican this summer to visit the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and other notable landmarks. He will also play historic Italian organs in nearby churches. After graduate school, Nicholas plans to become a full-time director of music at a Catholic cathedral. He will use his musical knowledge to praise God and share God’s love with others.