JOHN G. SHANKS

Dr. John Shanks joins the faculty of Western Michigan University as Associate Professor of Trombone after eleven years of service at West Texas A&M University, where he held the same position, and also after eleven years as Principal Trombone of the Amarillo Symphony. Dr. Shanks holds a DMA from the University of Alabama, an MM from Indiana University, and a BM from Youngstown State University, all in trombone performance. In addition to finding success and fulfillment in their careers once they graduate, his students have performed at the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, Texas Music Educators Association conference, and many more venues; also, they’ve achieved contest success in events such as the Southeast Trombone Symposium and auditioned into events like the Santa Fe Trombone Summit (now the Southwest Trombone Conference) and Summer Trombone Workshop.

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As a performer, Dr. Shanks has appeared with groups such as the Vancouver Symphony, Albany Symphony (live and on recordings), San Antonio Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Mississippi Symphony, Youngstown Symphony, and many other orchestras; he lived and performed aboard two Norwegian Cruise Line vessels, was a member of the international tour of the musical “Hairspray!”, and even co-founded and played trombone in a rock band. He regularly performs with the Professors Choir and the faculty at the Southeast Trombone Symposium.

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An avid soloist, he has appeared with the WTAMU Symphonic Band, the WTAMU Brass Choir, Chamber Music Amarillo, the Amarillo Symphony, W.D. Packard Band, the Akron Community Band, the University of Alabama Concert Band, and the WTAMU and University of Alabama Trombone Choirs. He was named the winner of the 2012 Eastern Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition and was a finalist in the same competition in 2011.  Additionally, he was twice chosen as one of eight featured Participants at the Alessi Seminar out of a large international field.

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Originally from Ohio, John enjoys reading, running, baking bread, weightlifting, roasting (and drinking) coffee, and most of all answering the endless litany of “why” questions from his 6-year-old daughter. John is a Performing Artist for the S.E. Shires instrument company, and is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the International Trombone Association, the American Association of University Professors, and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.