Shane Shanahan

Education

MM, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

BM, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester

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Shane Shanahan has studied drumming traditions from many different cultures and combines them with his training in classical Western music and jazz to create his own unique style. Since January of 2001 he has been touring all over the world performing with Yo-Yo Ma as a member of the Silk Road Ensemble. He is also a member of frame drum master Glen Velez's Handance ensemble and Simon Shaheen's Qantara. Shane has performed with jazz legend Sonny Fortune, African multi-instrumentalist Foday Musa Suso, masters of Persian music Shahram and Hafez Nazeri, Mugam singer Alim Qasimov, Bang on a Can All-Star Robert Black, and composer Philip Glass, among others. He has also worked with Indonesian gamelans, Caribbean Steel Drum bands, throat singing choirs, free improvisation groups, contemporary music ensembles, orchestras, and many singer/song writers. During the spring semester of 2000, Shane was the director of the percussion department at the University of Hartford's conservatory, The Hartt School. He has presented workshops, performed, and studied in India, New Zealand, and Turkey, and throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has also appeared on TV and radio throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as in Turkey, China, Taiwan, and Japan. Shane's love of movement has led to many collaborations with a wide range of dancers. He has worked with belly dancers, North Indian Kathak dancers, South Indian Bharata Natyam dancers, as well as many modern dancers. He has created and performed music for dance all over North America and Turkey. When Shane is at home in New York City, he plays for dance classes at the Alvin Ailey School in addition to his active freelancing. He received his bachelors degree and performers certificate from The Eastman School of Music and his masters degree from The Hartt School.