Shawn Lawton
Muskegon,Mi.
Summary
Energetic and motivational individual with a passion for fostering musical talent and creating harmonious vocal ensembles. Possesses a profound understanding of choral arrangements and vocal techniques, along with strong skills in conducting and music theory. Dedicated to inspiring and elevating choral groups to achieve their full potential and deliver captivating performances.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Choirs
Mona Shores High School
01.1993 - Current
- Served as the Performing Arts Department Chair for11 years,2011-2023
- Instructed as many as400 students a year in grades9-12
- Create and execute lesson plans for up to9 choral ensembles, instructing and managing choirs of various voicings at all ability levels, while preparing them for diverse performances
- Teach vocal technique, ear training, music theory, sight-singing, and the interpretation of music across various time periods, cultures, languages, and styles
- Choirs, soloists and ensembles have earned first division ratings at district and state choral events
- Produced27 musicals, musical directed20 of those, and pit directed ??
- Collaborate with Performing Arts Colleagues on a biannual k-12 arts showcase, “Sound of Shores”, very similar to “Musical Moods” at GRCC
- Produced and Directed32 popular music productions known as “Pop Go the Sailors.”
- Prepared ensembles for collaborative projects with the West Michigan Symphony2024,2015 and2001
- Oversee the Mona Shores Choir Association, a501(c)3 Organization
- Established the Mona Shores Choir Fund within the Community Foundation for Muskegon Community Foundation currently valued at over $111,500
- Guide the Mona Shores Choir Student Executive Board
- Prepared and mentored a number of high school students that have gone on to successful music education and performance careers
- Mentored numerous collegiate student teachers as their Cooperating Teacher who are teaching Music Education today
- Produced “Coffee House” style concerts annually since2001
- Oversee “Musical Theater Cabaret” concerts annually since2020
- Oversaw an entire music wing addition to the school in1996, including an857 seat theater, choir, band, and orchestra rooms, practice room wing, dance room, and more
Choir Director
Muskegon Community College Choir
01.1997 - 01.1999
- Prepared the choir for various performances
Choir Director
Quarter Notes Children’s Choir, Oak Lawn Park District
01.1991 - 01.1993
- Prepared the choir for various performances
Director of Choirs
Harold L. Richards High School
01.1990 - 01.1993
- Developed a program that began as a part-time assignment and expanded into a full-time choral program
- Prepared rehearsals, selected music repertoire, and coordinated concert performances
- Founded the HLR “Enores” Show Choir
Choir Director
Polaris School for Individual Education
01.1990 - 01.1992
- Established and developed a choral program from the ground up
Education
Master’s of Music -
Western Michigan University
Bachelor of Music - Music Education, Choral/General Emphasis
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Mi.Associates in Music - undefined
Grand Rapids Community College
Skills
- Relationship building
- Verbal and written communication
- Repertoire selection
- Choir management
- Attention to detail
- Multitasking
- Effective communication
- Charismatic leader
- Rehearsal planning
- Choir recruitment
- Concert production
Highlight Performances
- MSVMA Michigan High School TTBB State and Regional Honors Choir Conductor in2004-2005.
- 58th Annual Michigan Music Education In-Service Conference (now MMC). MSHS “The Octave” male vocal octet performance,2003.
- MSVMA Michigan Youth Arts Festival Ensemble Invitational Concert Performances in 2005 (“Twelvetet”),2004 (“Twelvetet”),2002 (“The Octave”),2001(“Chamber Choir”), and2000 (“Chamber Choir”).
- Michigan Music Conference Presenter2020: Touring the World, Taking Your Ensembles Overseas.
Unique and Extraordinary
- Mona Shores High School choral program is known internationally for presenting “America’s Tallest Singing Christmas Tree” concerts each December to over7,500 enthusiastic audience members in six consistently sold out productions at the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon, and they just celebrated their40th season this year.
- Another6,000+, worldwide, watched the live streamed production on our closing night.
- This program is in partnership with the school’s Symphony Orchestra, who accompany most of the repertoire.
- This event has been featured on The Learning Channel, The Travel Channel, National Public Radio, PBS-Under the Radar, The Associated Press, USA Today, the New York Times, ABC News, and the Smithsonian.
- In the fall of2013, this unique project received the Michigan Association of School Board’s Michigan’s Best Award.
- The management of hundreds of Parent and Community Volunteers is needed for a wide variety of aspects of the program.
- Oversaw and directed members of the Mona Shores High School Choir on international tours beginning in1993, singing in Brazil, Greece, Austria, Italy, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain, Turkey, and most recently, South Africa in the summer of2024.
- The choir has sung for the Pope, with the Coventry Choir on BBC Radio, and entertained in the White House at Christmas.
- Members of his high school choir tour New York City every other year.
Awards and Honors
- Featured on the Grand Rapids Community College website in 2024: CLICK HERE!
- Michigan State Vocal Music Association Teacher of the Year Nominee, 2023-2024.
- The Mona Shores High School Performing Arts Department has been named a National Association of Music Merchants “Best Communities for Music Education'' from 2016-2024.
- Shawn received the Michigan Education Association’s Exceptional Persons in Community Schools Award in 2022.
- Shawn earned the Mona Shores Education Foundation’s Teacher Excellence Award in 2000.
- Mona Shores High School was named a Grammy Signature School in 2004 and 1999.
Affiliations
- The American Choral Directors Association
- The Michigan School Vocal Music Association
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Choral/Singing Mentors
- Dr. Joe Miller-Western Michigan University-Graduate
- Mel Ivey-Western Michigan University-Undergraduate
- David Little-Western Michigan University-Voice Teacher
- Duane Davis-Grand Rapids Community College (Shades of Blue)
- Dale Schriemer-Grand Rapids Community College-Voice Teacher
- Bradley Moffitt-Jenison High School
- Nancy Bray-Jenison Junior High School
Personal
Shawn and his wife Molly enjoy their three wonderful children who are all in the field of education, and their son is a music educator at Reeths-Puffer Intermediate in Muskegon, Mi. Molly earned her Bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in Musical Theater Performance and she has spent her career directing and choreographing countless musicals along the Lakeshore.
Timeline
Choir Director
Muskegon Community College Choir
01.1997 - 01.1999
Director of Choirs
Mona Shores High School
01.1993 - Current
Choir Director
Quarter Notes Children’s Choir, Oak Lawn Park District
01.1991 - 01.1993
Director of Choirs
Harold L. Richards High School
01.1990 - 01.1993
Choir Director
Polaris School for Individual Education
01.1990 - 01.1992
Associates in Music - undefined
Grand Rapids Community College
Master’s of Music -
Western Michigan University
Bachelor of Music - Music Education, Choral/General Emphasis
Western Michigan University
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