UW-Platteville Performing & Visual Arts/Music

Contact Information:

Email: shapirab@uwplatt.edu
Phone: 608-342-1021
Address: 154 Doudna

Educational Background

2002 Doctor of Musical Arts, Rutgers University
1992 Master of Music, Yale University
1989 Artist Diploma, Jerusalem Music Academy
1986 Bachelor of Music, Jerusalem Music Academy

Prizes, Honors and Awards

Winner of the Cello Award, Artist International Competition, New York
Selected by Isaac Stern to join the Jerusalem Music Center Outstanding Young Musicians Group. Initiated and supervised by Isaac Stern, this group consisted of ten selected young artists between the ages 6 - 18. The group met for complete summers and winter breaks, and intensively worked with artists such as Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zuckerman, Henrick Schering, Janos Starker, Aldo Parisot, Leonard Rose, Pablo Casals, Gary Carr and others.
Recognized as an ‘Artist of National Interest’ by the United States government
Recognized as an ‘Outstanding Musician’ by the Israeli Government
Winner, America Israel Cultural Foundation Awards
First Prize: Israeli National Radio Competition
First Prize: Israeli music Competition
First prize: The Metropolitan Symphony Concerto Competition
Winner, Jewish National Fund Special Award
First Prize: The Jerusalem Music Academy Concerto Competition
First Prize: The Rutgers University Concerto Competition
Excellence scholarship: Yale University
Excellence scholarship: Rutgers University
Excellence scholarship: Jerusalem Music Academy

Teaching Experience

2002 - Present	University of Wisconsin - Platteville: Director of University Orchestras
1999 - 2001	Middle Tennessee State University - Assistant Professor, Director of University Orchestra
1996 - 1998	Rutgers University - Lecturer, Jewish Music.
	Guest lectures in institutions such as: Yale University, Hebrew University, State University of Illinois and more

Present Position (2002 - Present): Director of Orchestras, University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Responsibilities:

To build and direct the University Orchestras, teach Applied Strings, recruit for the university orchestras and string program

Achievements:

Built within three academic years two orchestras: the University Orchestra and the University Symphonietta. Both will be full symphony orchestras by next semester.
Increased student membership in the string section of the university orchestra.
Increased number of strings students who take lessons from 5 students three years ago to 40 students (34 registered).
Increased the number of string music majors and minors: we currently have 11 string majors and 4 minors. Next year we will have additional 5 majors and at least one additional minor.
Built UWP Chamber Players. 6 ensembles are currently active in this chamber music program, employing 26 string students. This semester the following ensembles are active:
- The Carmina Quartet - a very active ensemble, this group currently works on Beethoven Opus 59 no. 1 (Razumovsky), Schubert Opus 29 and Haydn no. 16.
- String Quintet (with Bass) - currently working on the Hindemith Opus 44 no. 3
- String Quartet - currently working on Beethoven Opus 18 no. 1
- String Quartet - Currently working on Haydn Opus 33 no. 3
- String Sextet - Currently working on Brahms Sextet Opus 18
- Piano trio - Currently working on Schubert trio in B flat Major
Initiated a comprehensive recruiting program (see below), which resulted in making the string program in UWP one of the largest in the state.
Initiated the International Students Project (see below)
Established an effective, favorable and fruitful relationship with high school orchestra programs, youth symphonies and private string teachers in Wisconsin (see below).

Recruiting Projects and Activities:

The Outstanding Young Artists Competition and Workshops. Inspired by a similar recruiting project I ran for MTSU (see below), this innovative program was designed to provide high school students with a comprehensive chamber music experience with a competitive edge. It successfully attracted some of the most talented string players in the state to our campus.

The selection process for this competition included auditions held in schools in the Madison and Dubuque area, followed by two-day semi final workshops held in Madison and Platteville, and by a final two-day workshop held on campus. The Finals round culminated with a concert/competition. 50 of the most talented musicians in the Madison, Dubuque and Platteville areas took part in this process. 20 were advanced to the semi finals stage. 10 were advanced to the finals stage. 3 winners were announced. First prizewinner performed with the UWP University Orchestra as soloist.

This project has successfully achieved the following goals:
- Identified 50 of the most talented and advanced potential students in the OYAC operation area, defined as Madison and South, to Dubuque.
- Provided me with an opportunity to work closely with 10 of the most talented musicians in the competition’s designated areas for two weekends (finals and semi finals), and with the 20 most talented musicians for one weekend (semi finals).
- Exposed our campus, faculty and facilities to the top ten outstanding artists in the OYAC operation area.
- By providing the winner with the opportunity to perform solo with the UWP orchestra we have favorably exposed our orchestra to many of the students who participate in her orchestra program.
- Provide the UWP string program with prestige.
- The recruiting process for this project has provided me with an excellent theme around which comprehensive visits were conducted to all the high school orchestra programs in the OYAC designated areas.
Established healthy on going relationship with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony. The Wisconsin Youth Symphony is an organization composed of five youth orchestras of different levels. It is established as the major source of music education to young players at all levels in an area radius of about 80 miles around Madison. WSO provides students with private lessons, a chamber music program and orchestral experience. All students who aspire who view music as an important part of their lives, and who reside within the areas of operation of WSO take part in at least one of the activities provided by this organization. In order for UWP to be successful in building a strong strings program it was essential to establish strong ties with WSO. This process began immediately following my arrival at UWP and has successfully achieved its goals. The process included the following activities:
- Master Classes were performed for the WSO chamber music program on several occasions.
- Judging services on yearly cello auditions for all five orchestras were rendered to WSO on a regular basis. This activity enabled us to identify and rank all major potential cello students in the WSO operations area. In addition, it provided me with a comfortable and favorable entry into the organization, while providing us with extra exposure to the students themselves.
- Judging services for the WSO Concerto Competition were rendered as well. This activity identified and ranked the strongest players in all instruments that participate in WSO.
- Following extensive planning and negotiations, we have been successful in attracting the Wisconsin Youth Philharmonia, WSO's second best orchestra, into campus. An extensive visit was conducted on March 15th, and included joint rehearsals with UWP University Orchestra, master classes, tours of campus and more. This activity provided an opportunity for me to closely work with the second best youth symphony in the state of Wisconsin - some 100 students who are sophomores, juniors and seniors in High School. It exposed those students to me as an orchestra director via the joint rehearsals, while also exposing them to the rest of our faculty via the master classes.
Established a healthy relationship with high school orchestra directors throughout the state of Wisconsin. Extensive visits were conducted to most orchestra programs throughout the state. In addition to regular visits, I am now invited to provide more extensive clinics with various orchestras. Examples include:
- Clinic conducted on UWP Campus for the Chippewa Falls High School Orchestra and the Platteville High School Orchestra combined.
- Two-Day Clinic scheduled for the Holmes High School and Middle School Orchestras (March 31 - April 1).
- Full Day Clinic scheduled for the Fort Atkinson High School and Middle School Orchestra (May 16th).
Orchestra tours. The University Orchestra has completed, within the past two years, three tours - to the La Crosse area, to the Madison area and to the Appleton area, visiting some 18 orchestra programs. All concerts were very favorably accepted and resulted in extra exposure to our fast growing string program.
The International Student Project. This innovative program, which aims at attracting a few outstanding artist students from economically under developed countries can potentially revolutionize our whole orchestra program - even put us on the national map. The project was initiated under the hypothesis that while these countries are under developed economically, they do have fully developed cultural activities and heritage. Thus they do have many exciting young musicians, indeed future soloists, who are worthy of our attention. We hoped to be able to provide these extra ordinary talents with the growth and learning opportunities available to them only by attending a fine program here. We further assumed that by offering a tuition scholarship to UWP we would be able to attract the top young artists in these countries, as they can only pursue a solo career here in the US.

Thanks to a grant we have received, we were able to prove our assumptions were indeed correct. We were able to recruit two outstanding, world-class caliber cellists from Argentina, who are excited to come and study here.

The potential impact the Argentinean students offer to our string and orchestra program can only be described as dramatic. Being placed as section leaders in the orchestra, they will provide an example to our students and dramatically increase the level of our orchestra program. As representatives of the university they will be presented as soloists and chamber musicians on a very high profile, further strengthening our program as recruiters.

Future Recruiting Plans:

The Orchestra and Chamber Music Festival. OYAC was very successful in identifying and attracting top caliber musicians to our campus. OCMF aims at providing an orchestral and chamber music experience to a mass of students, who are not necessarily top caliber in their instruments. Scheduled for May 7-8, this will provide an opportunity for me to work with a great number of potential students. By providing it with a competitive edge we will be also able to attract some of the more talented musicians to campus.
OYAC will be run again next year in its original form, side by side with the OCMF.
International Student Project. We have started work on funding for this exciting project for the following year. At this point an application for continuing funding was submitted to the Liberace Foundation. In addition, preliminary contacts to the Bull Foundation and the Bank One Foundation have been encouraging. In addition, research has resulted in the identification of some ten other foundations that appear to fund projects similar to ours. I am therefore encouraged as to the chances of getting funding for the continuation and possible growth of this very important project.
WSO. An effort will be conducted to penetrate into the Youth Symphony, WSO top orchestra. In addition, all former activities will continue.
School visits. As the Madison area has been exploited quite efficiently, my focus next year will be La Crosse and Appleton. Though some of these programs were visited at least once, further activity is necessary in order to establish our roots to this area.
Orchestras’ tours. Both orchestras as well as parts of our chamber music program will tour next year. In addition, I am hoping to be able to tour the Madison area with the Carmina Quartet this semester.

Courses Taught:

Applied Strings
University Orchestra
University Symphonietta
Chamber Music
String Techniques
Music Theory
Aural Skills
Music Appreciation

Academic Committee Service:

Scholarship Committee

Faculty Chamber Ensembles:

Participate in Roundtree Ensemble, UWP faculty Chamber ensemble.

On Campus Performances:

2002 - 2003 From Bach to Brahms. A concert series that includes:

The Complete Bach Suites for Cello Solo

The Complete Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano

The Complete Brahms Sonatas for Cello and Piano

2003 - 2004 The Romantic Cello. A concert series that includes:

Romantic Favorites for Cello: Schubert Arpeggionne and other works.

Chopin and Grieg: Sonatas for Cello and Piano

Mendelssohn - The Complete Works for Cello and Piano

Former Position (1999 - 2001): Orchestra Director and Assistant Professor, Cello, Middle Tennessee State University.

Responsibilities:

To build and direct the University Orchestra, teach Applied Cello, recruit for the university orchestra and string program, coach chamber music, teach music appreciation courses to non-music majors, teach conducting problems course.

Achievements:

Built, within less then two academic years, a full Symphony Orchestra which performs major orchestral repertoire, out of an inherited small string ensemble, mostly composed of music minors and non music majors
Initiated and executed a comprehensive recruiting effort
Established an effective, favorable and fruitful relationship with high school orchestra programs and private string teachers in Tennessee
Built an active chamber music program involving all string students, performing major chamber repertoire

Recruiting Projects:

The Outstanding Young Artists Competition and Workshops: a comprehensive professional and learning experience designed for outstanding orchestral string students at high school age. The OYAC was held in four major cities in Tennessee. Following preliminary auditions, semi finalists participated in a weekend long workshop held in their own hometown. The workshops provided students with the opportunity to participate in coached chamber music groups, master classes and a performance. Participants also attended a lecture and a recital performed for them by myself. Four semi final workshops were conducted last year, after which finalists were invited to MTSU Campus for the Final workshop. First Prize Winner performed as a soloist with the MTSU Symphony. This project has resulted in increased interest among students in the MTSU orchestra program, the establishment of a solid relationship with all high school orchestra programs as well as in direct recruiting.
Initiated and executed a comprehensive recruiting effort in all high schools orchestra programs in Tennessee. Each program was visited at least three times last year. Visits included master classes, conducted rehearsals as well as lecture recitals.
Orchestra tour to selected Nashville High Schools.
Orchestra tour to selected Chattanooga High School
Initiated a prestigious concert series of cello concerts in an effort to attract attention of cello teachers in Tennessee to the MTSU cello studio, as well as to further increase student interest in the MTSU string program. The programs performed included:
- Bach - the Complete Cello Suites
- Beethoven - The Complete Sonatas for Cello and Piano
- Mendelssohn - The Complete works for Cello and Piano
- Grieg and Chopin - Works for Cello and Piano
- Brahms - The Complete Works for Cello and Piano
Frequent radio performances in Nashville Public Radio and WUOT, Knoxville.

Courses Taught:

Applied Cello (graduate and under-graduate)
University Orchestra
Chamber Music (graduate and under-graduate)
Conducting Problems (graduate course)
String Literature
Introduction to Music (non music majors)

Academic Committee Service:

1999 - 2000 Enrollment Standards and Scholarship Management Committee

Faculty Chamber Ensembles:

Participate in the Stones River Chamber Players, the faculty Chamber ensemble.

Conducting Experience

2002 - present	University of Wisconsin - Platteville: Director, University Orchestras
2002 - 2004	Dubuque Youth Symphony, Director
2002 - 2003	Staten Island Youth Symphony, Director
1999 - 2001	Middle Tennessee State University: Director, University Orchestra

Selected Performances:

Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall: ‘Romantic Music For Cello’; a program celebrating the release of my latest CD (scheduled for April 30th, 2005).
Los Angeles Museum of Art: ‘Romantic Music For Cello’; a program celebrating the release of my latest CD, broadcast live by the Los Angeles Public Radio and nation wide by NPR (scheduled for April 24th, 2005).
Merkin Concert Hall, NY: ‘From Bach to Brahms’, a recital for Cello and Piano;
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall: Six Suites for Cello Solo by J.S. Bach;
Carnegie Hall: The Artists International Competition Winners Concert Series
Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall: Five Sonatas for Cello and Piano by Beethoven;
National Gallery, Washington DC: Recital
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall: A cello solo recital. Program included Kodaly Sonata Opus 8 for Cello Solo, Bach suites no. 1 and 5 for Cello Solo.
Los Angeles Museum of Art, CA: Recital for cello solo, broadcast live by the LA public radio and nation wide by National Public Radio
Los Angeles Museum of Art, CA: ‘Brahms: The Complete Sonatas For Cello And Piano’, broadcast live by the LA public radio and nation wide by National Public Radio
Chicago Cultural Center: a Cello Solo recital. Broadcast live by WFMT
Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium: Recitals
Lincoln Center: Concerto Soloist
Carnegie Hall: Concerto Soloist
Concerto soloist with numerous orchestras in the US and abroad
Chicago University: Solo cello recital
Queens College: recital
Hofstra University International Concert Series: Recital
Quinnipiac College Concert Series: Recital

Discography and Selected Recordings:

Romantic Music For Cello: features Romantic miniatures for cello and piano. IRC label. Available at Tower Records, HMV and other fine record stores.
The Six Suites for Cello Solo by J. S. Bach: IRC label. Available in Europe and Israel. Will be released in the US on April 2006.
A Family Portrait: Includes works by Rachmaninoff, Schumann and Sergiu Shapira. IRC label. Available at Tower Records and other fine record stores
Television and Radio appearances at station such as: WCBS; WNYC; WQXR - NY; The Bavarian Radio, The French Radio, the BBC, the U.S. National Public Radio; the Israeli National Television; the Israeli National Radio; Voice of America; the Mexican Radio and others.