DR. KIRBY SHAW
KIRBY SHAW has made a major impact in choral music education and has shared his musical
expertise in 45 states, Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, China, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain,
Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, and the Philippines.
Kirby has degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and
a DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. Dr. Shaw’s teaching is
infused with a sense of humor and breadth of knowledge that is transmitted in an exciting and
highly contagious manner.
Kirby taught in the Mt. Shasta public schools before joining the faculty at College of the Siskiyous in
California where he founded and directed the innovative and highly acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz
Ensemble. He also pioneered similar groups at Colorado State University and The University of
Missouri - Kansas City, and is now directing the Jefferson State Choral Coalition in Ashland,
Oregon.
Kirby has scatted one-on-one with such notables as Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Jon Hendricks
(who once told Kirby . . . “Man, you don’t make mistakes!”), Mark Murphy, Greta Matassa, and
Chris Calloway.
He has overseen the creation of hundreds of educational recordings, five college and university
albums and two solo CDs.
Kirby is a member of Just 4 Kicks, a zany 4-man a cappella vocal ensemble specializing in Jazz.
A composer/arranger with nearly 3000 choral compositions/arrangements in print, Kirby’s music is
sung around the world and has sold over 20 million copies. He has many commissioned pieces to
his credit, including one for The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This creative and prolific output has
resulted in numerous ASCAP awards.
In 2009, Dr. Shaw was invited to New York’s Carnegie Hall to conduct a performance of his choral
music. Singers traveled from around the world to participate. The 180-member choir experienced a
memorable performance that included the audience enthusiastically scatting along with Kirby and
an extended standing ovation.
Kirby and his wife, Markita have written an original musical based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas
Carol entitled SCROOGICAL, soon to be presented at a quality theater near you!
Kirby, Markita, and their foofy-newfie/border collie mix, Tux, live in a forest high above Southern
Oregon’s Rogue Valley.
expertise in 45 states, Canada, Australia, the Bahamas, China, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain,
Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, Latvia, and the Philippines.
Kirby has degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and
a DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. Dr. Shaw’s teaching is
infused with a sense of humor and breadth of knowledge that is transmitted in an exciting and
highly contagious manner.
Kirby taught in the Mt. Shasta public schools before joining the faculty at College of the Siskiyous in
California where he founded and directed the innovative and highly acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz
Ensemble. He also pioneered similar groups at Colorado State University and The University of
Missouri - Kansas City, and is now directing the Jefferson State Choral Coalition in Ashland,
Oregon.
Kirby has scatted one-on-one with such notables as Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Jon Hendricks
(who once told Kirby . . . “Man, you don’t make mistakes!”), Mark Murphy, Greta Matassa, and
Chris Calloway.
He has overseen the creation of hundreds of educational recordings, five college and university
albums and two solo CDs.
Kirby is a member of Just 4 Kicks, a zany 4-man a cappella vocal ensemble specializing in Jazz.
A composer/arranger with nearly 3000 choral compositions/arrangements in print, Kirby’s music is
sung around the world and has sold over 20 million copies. He has many commissioned pieces to
his credit, including one for The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This creative and prolific output has
resulted in numerous ASCAP awards.
In 2009, Dr. Shaw was invited to New York’s Carnegie Hall to conduct a performance of his choral
music. Singers traveled from around the world to participate. The 180-member choir experienced a
memorable performance that included the audience enthusiastically scatting along with Kirby and
an extended standing ovation.
Kirby and his wife, Markita have written an original musical based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas
Carol entitled SCROOGICAL, soon to be presented at a quality theater near you!
Kirby, Markita, and their foofy-newfie/border collie mix, Tux, live in a forest high above Southern
Oregon’s Rogue Valley.
Photo by Judith Pavlik
Copyright © 2022 Kirby Shaw Music-All Rights Reserved.
