Erik Shinn

Administrator ~ Musician ~ Educator

Photographer: André Peele

Erik Shinn joined the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra in early 2021 and was promoted to Director of Operations & Artistic Planning in late 2022. An active arts administrator with a passion for orchestral music, he has previously held positions with the York Symphony Orchestra, Music Academy of the West, Brevard Music Center, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. In Kalamazoo, Erik oversees the scheduling and production of concerts, rehearsals, and events, compliance with vendor and union contracts, guest artist contracting, and budget for the Operations and Artistic teams. He also works to build and strengthen positive relationships between musicians, KSO administration, guest artists, and facility managers. In 2019 he was selected for and attended the League of American Orchestras’s Essentials of Orchestra Management course, a 10-day immersive seminar in orchestra management, held in Los Angeles, California.

Erik previously served as Adjunct Instructor of Trombone at the University of Florida and held graduate teaching assistantships in the trombone studios at Florida State and Baylor universities. During his time in Florida he won contract positions with the Gainesville and Ocala Symphony Orchestras and performed with others throughout the state. Erik's research interests are centered on trombone literature and include the Collegiate Commissions Project, and treatise An Annotated Bibliography of Works for Solo Bass Trombone and Wind BandHe has performed as soloist and/or presented at the International Trombone Festival (ITF), American Trombone Workshop (ATW), Florida Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference (FMEA), and the University of Florida International Brass Festival.

As an arranger, Erik has adapted works for a variety of ensembles, specializing in trombone choir and mixed low brass with recent commissions for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra’s Craft Music series. His arrangements have been commissioned and performed by professional organizations including the: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Cramer Trombone Choir (Professor Trombone Choir of the International Trombone Festival), Cleveland Trombone Seminar, Fort Worth Brass, Interlochen Arts Camp Faculty Brass Ensemble, Nittany Trombone Quartet, St. Louis Low Brass Collective, Washington Trombone Ensemble, Nitzan Haroz [Philadelphia Orchestra], Paul Pollard [Metropolitan Opera Orchestra], as well as numerous collegiate ensembles.

Erik earned the Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University, a Master of Music from Baylor University, and Bachelor of Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University. His primary trombone instructors include John Drew, Brent Phillips, Mark Lusk, Jan Kagarice, and Grant Moore II. Erik is a member of the League of American Orchestras.

NOVEMBER 2022