diff --git a/src/led_sync/scheduler.py b/src/led_sync/scheduler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..80189cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/led_sync/scheduler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+"""
+ChoreographyScheduler: absolute monotonic clock event dispatcher.
+Implements CHR-05 — fires animation commands on-time during choreography playback.
+
+Algorithm (D-07/D-08/D-09):
+  fire_at = start_time + pause_offset + event.timestamp
+  Never accumulate relative delays. Recalculate remaining sleep each 5ms poll.
+  Drift guaranteed < 1ms per event over any duration (absolute math, no accumulation).
+"""
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import time
+from typing import Callable
+
+from led_sync.models import ChoreoEvent
+from led_sync.transport.udp_client import ESP32Transport
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+POLL_INTERVAL = 0.005  # 5ms sleep poll — keeps asyncio responsive
+
+
+class ChoreographyScheduler:
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        transport: ESP32Transport,
+        on_event: Callable[[ChoreoEvent], None] | None = None,
+    ):
+        self._transport = transport
+        self._on_event = on_event  # optional hook: called when event fires (for TUI update)
+
+        self.start_time: float | None = None
+        self.pause_offset: float = 0.0
+        self.paused_at: float | None = None
+        self._task: asyncio.Task | None = None
+        self._events: list[ChoreoEvent] = []
+
+    # --- State ---
+
+    @property
+    def current_position(self) -> float:
+        """Playback position in seconds. Safe to read from asyncio or threads."""
+        if self.start_time is None:
+            return 0.0
+        if self.paused_at is not None:
+            return self.paused_at - self.start_time - self.pause_offset
+        return time.monotonic() - self.start_time - self.pause_offset
+
+    @property
+    def is_running(self) -> bool:
+        return self._task is not None and not self._task.done()
+
+    # --- Control ---
+
+    def play(self, events: list[ChoreoEvent], seek_seconds: float = 0.0) -> None:
+        """
+        Start scheduling events. Sorts by timestamp, skips events before seek_seconds.
+        Creates an asyncio Task — must be called from within asyncio event loop.
+        """
+        self.stop()
+        self.start_time = time.monotonic() - seek_seconds  # absolute base
+        self.pause_offset = 0.0
+        self.paused_at = None
+        self._events = sorted(events, key=lambda e: e.timestamp)
+        self._task = asyncio.create_task(
+            self._run(seek_seconds=seek_seconds),
+            name="choreo-scheduler",
+        )
+        logger.info("Scheduler started: %d events, seek=%.2fs", len(self._events), seek_seconds)
+
+    def pause(self) -> None:
+        """Freeze dispatching. Records pause point for resume."""
+        if self.paused_at is not None or self.start_time is None:
+            return  # already paused or not started
+        self.paused_at = time.monotonic()
+        logger.info("Scheduler paused at %.2fs", self.current_position)
+
+    def resume(self) -> None:
+        """Continue from pause point. Adjusts pause_offset (D-09)."""
+        if self.paused_at is None:
+            return  # not paused
+        self.pause_offset += time.monotonic() - self.paused_at
+        self.paused_at = None
+        logger.info("Scheduler resumed, pause_offset=%.3fs", self.pause_offset)
+
+    def seek(self, seconds: float) -> None:
+        """
+        Seek to position. Restarts scheduler from new position,
+        skipping events before seconds.
+        """
+        if self._events:
+            self.play(self._events, seek_seconds=seconds)
+
+    def stop(self) -> None:
+        """Cancel scheduler task and reset all state."""
+        if self._task and not self._task.done():
+            self._task.cancel()
+        self._task = None
+        self.start_time = None
+        self.pause_offset = 0.0
+        self.paused_at = None
+        logger.info("Scheduler stopped")
+
+    # --- Internal ---
+
+    async def _run(self, seek_seconds: float = 0.0) -> None:
+        """
+        Core dispatch loop. Absolute monotonic scheduling (D-07).
+        5ms poll interval ensures asyncio loop stays responsive.
+        """
+        pending = [e for e in self._events if e.timestamp >= seek_seconds]
+        logger.debug("Dispatch loop: %d events pending after seek=%.2fs", len(pending), seek_seconds)
+
+        for event in pending:
+            # Wait until fire time, polling every 5ms
+            while True:
+                if self.paused_at is not None:
+                    # Paused: just poll and wait
+                    await asyncio.sleep(POLL_INTERVAL)
+                    continue
+                # Absolute fire time — recalculated fresh each iteration (D-07)
+                fire_at = self.start_time + self.pause_offset + event.timestamp
+                remaining = fire_at - time.monotonic()
+                if remaining <= 0:
+                    break
+                await asyncio.sleep(min(remaining, POLL_INTERVAL))
+
+            self._dispatch(event)
+
+        logger.info("Scheduler: all events dispatched")
+
+    def _dispatch(self, event: ChoreoEvent) -> None:
+        """Build protocol command and send via transport (CHR-05)."""
+        cmd: dict = {
+            "zone": event.zone,
+            "animation": event.animation,
+            "params": event.params,
+        }
+        self._transport.send_command(cmd)
+        if self._on_event:
+            self._on_event(event)
+        logger.debug(
+            "Dispatched: zone=%s animation=%s at position=%.3fs",
+            event.zone,
+            event.animation,
+            self.current_position,
+        )