Educator

Steve Shanley is the Pearl M. Taylor Professor of Music at Coe College (Cedar Rapids, IA), where he coordinates the music education program. Previously, he spent 11 years teaching middle and high school band, orchestra, and choir in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. While in the public schools and at Coe College, Shanley has worked with more than 100 music student teachers and countless field experience students. Under his guidance, the Coe College Jazz Summit has become one of the nation’s largest educational jazz festivals, involving over 2,000 middle and high school students each year. Shanley led statewide efforts to found the Jazz Educators of Iowa and currently serves the group as vice president. Additionally, he is co-chair of the Iowa Jazz Championships, conductor of the annual Coe College Junior Honor Band, and director of the annual “North Corridor All-Stars” high school jazz ensemble. He has presented on elementary and secondary music topics at multiple conferences, directed dozens of honor music ensembles, and given clinics to hundreds of school music programs nationwide. As an author, Shanley contributes to GIA’s Teaching Music Through Performance, was rhythm section editor for Hal Leonard’s The Latin Jazz Guidebook, reviews books for various scholarly journals, and regularly writes columns for music education publications. Contact Steve if you’d like more information about his services as a clinician, consultant, or author.

Composer & Arranger

Over 2,000 of his compositions and arrangements have been performed by instrumental and choral ensembles throughout the world, and his original works for band and jazz band are published by C.L. Barnhouse Company and Magnolia Music Publications. Shanley writes music in a variety of genres and for all ability levels: professional symphony orchestra, children’s choir, marching band, show choir, brass band, chamber ensembles, and school band, orchestra, and choir. Get more information here, or contact Steve if you’d like to inquire about commissions or custom arrangements.

Conductor & Pianist

In addition to his work conducting school bands, orchestras, and choirs, Shanley is also the conductor of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, a professional ensemble that performs over 20 concerts each year. He also maintains an active schedule as a pianist, specializing in jazz, Latin jazz, musical theater, funk, rock, and pop styles. Contact Steve if you’d like more information about his services as a guest conductor or pianist.