Steve Shanley - Conductor

Steve Shanley is in his first season as music director and conductor of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. His experience spans the band, orchestral, and choral genres, and he has conducted musicians of all ages in performances throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Shanley teaches at Washington High School and Coe College and is a music director for productions at Theatre Cedar Rapids. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a master's degree from the University of Minnesota, and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Iowa. A Grammy-nominated pianist, Shanley has played for over a dozen touring Broadway productions in addition to appearances with Lesley Gore, Bobby Rydell, and the Diamonds. He is music director, arranger, and keyboardist for the band Funk Stop and serves as pianist and arranger for the Rod Pierson Big Band. In addition, Shanley worked as a musician at Disneyland and has played for the Harry James Big Band, the Bill Shepherd Big Band, and numerous symphony orchestras. His percussion experience includes performances with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and ten years with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. In addition to an active schedule as a performer and guest conductor, Shanley is in demand as a composer and arranger. Over 1,000 of his works have been performed throughout the world, though he has maintained strong ties to Eastern Iowa through collaborations with Rob Nassif, Karla Goettel, Jim McDonough, Orchestra Iowa, the Follies, the Eastern Iowa Brass Band, and numerous high school show choirs and marching bands. Shanley is an exam reader for Advanced Placement Music Theory and was the founding president of the Jazz Educators of Iowa. His wife, Valerie, teaches at Franklin Middle School and plays horn in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. They enjoy spending time with their six-year old daughter, Vivian, and four-year old son, Evan. Shanley is honored to be named the fourth conductor in the 60-year history of the Municipal Band and encourages all community members to enjoy the great music this summer! Gazette article July 2011