Horn · Composer · Educator
Shanyse
Strickland
Bringing the French horn into funk, jazz, R&B and the concert hall, and writing new music for brass and winds.
About
Shanyse Strickland is a French horn player, composer and educator who brings the pop, funk and R&B she grew up on into the classical world.
She is Lecturer of Horn and co-director of the Jazz Ensemble at Eastern Michigan University. Originally from Akron, Ohio, she has built a career presenting the horn as a voice in what some would call a "non-traditional" context: playing horn, trombone and flute with the reuniting Ohio Players, winning the 2016 International Horn Symposium jazz competition (which she now adjudicates), performing at the Heisman Trophy Ceremony on ESPN, and appearing as Featured Artist at the International Horn Symposium in 2024. She has toured nationally as principal horn of Spider-Verse and has performed and recorded with artists including Black Thought of The Roots.
As a composer she has written and published more than thirty-eight works that widen the repertoire for brass and winds. Her horn quartet Moods was premiered by the horn section of the New Haven Symphony, A B.O.P. was heard at the International Women's Brass Conference, and the Seattle Symphony commissioned Empathy for its horn section in 2023.
Listen
I Would…and I WILL
A B.O.P. (Beats of Power!)
For Your Love
Watch
Works
A selection from a catalogue of more than thirty-eight pieces. Scores are available through Rising Tide Music Press or by request.
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2023
Empathy
Commissioned by the Seattle Symphony for its Emerging Artists Series
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2023
Afrofuturism
Music by Women Festival (Mississippi University for Women); Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival selection
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2020
Listen
A B.O.P. (Beats of Power!)
First commission; performed at the International Women's Brass Conference
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Listen
Moods
Premiered by the horn section of the New Haven Symphony
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Listen
I Would…and I WILL
A portrait inspired by Elizabeth Freeman, who won the first successful freedom suit in the United States
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Listen
For Your Love
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Listen
The Christmas Feels
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Listen
More Than a Man
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Listen
Every Woman
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Listen
Armed Forces Medley arr.
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It's So Hard to Say Goodbye arr.
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I Want Jesus to Walk with Me arr.
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Ukrainian National Anthem arr.
CV
Positions
- Lecturer of Horn; Co-Director, Jazz Ensemble
- Faculty
- Principal Horn
Performs with
- American Composers Orchestra
- Gateways Symphony Orchestra
- Akron Symphony
- Youngstown Symphony
Education
- Artist Diploma
- Master of Music, Horn Performance
- Bachelor of Music, Horn Performance
Highlights
- 2024Featured Artist, International Horn Symposium 57
- 2023Commission from the Seattle Symphony: Empathy, Emerging Artists Series
- 2023Afrofuturism selected for the Music by Women Festival
- 2020A B.O.P. performed at the International Women's Brass Conference
- 2019, 2021Heisman Trophy Ceremony, live on ESPN, with Will Wells & the Whole Team Winnin'
- 2016Winner, International Horn Symposium Jazz Competition (now an adjudicator)
- 2009–11Horn, trombone & flute with the reuniting Ohio Players
- Principal horn on two national tours of Spider-Verse
- Performed and recorded with Black Thought (The Roots) and Savion Glover; arranging for Roberta Flack
Press & interviews
Contact
For commissions, performances, clinics and lessons: