In recent years, Mr. Schelat was chosen four times from international candidate pools to be a Conducting Fellow participating in the Dennis Keene Choral Festival, where he studied conducting with Dennis Keene (Voices of Ascension), John Alexander (Pacific Chorale), Peter Bagley (University of Connecticut), and Vance George (San Francisco Symphony Chorus). Previously, he studied conducting with Maurice Casey at The Ohio State University and Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College.

David Schelat is on the keyboard faculty of the Wilmington Music School, where he teaches organ. He is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, and is presently a District Convener in Region III, is a past Dean of the Delaware Chapter, is coordinator for the Vernon deTar Scholarship Competition, and has taught at numerous summer Pipe Organ Encounters. He is also a member of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. He has served on the national board of directors of this organization and was Conference Director of PAM's 2000 Westminster Conference on Worship and Music. He served on the Delaware State Arts Council for 6 years, and in 2005, received a Wilmington Award for his longstanding arts leadership in the city of Wilmington.

David Schelat received his Bachelor of Music degree cum laude from The Ohio State University, his Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, and has pursued additional post-graduate studies at Syracuse University. His major instrument was organ, which he has studied with Will O. Headlee, Wilbur Held, and David Craighead.