Biography
Randall Shinn completed a doctorate in composition at the University of Illinois in 1975. Shinn's works are grounded in classical traditions, but his personal voice as a composer began to emerge in the late 70s when he began to incorporate various vernacular elements into his musical language. The rhythms of his works, for example, often reveal subtle connections to popular dance rhythms and vernacular speech patterns. When present, such elements are tightly integrated into what one reviewer called "a sound that is uniquely his."
Common traits in his music are lyricism, theatrical atmosphere, elegant orchestration, and "danceable" rhythms. Reviewers have repeatedly commented on the sophistication and expressive power of his compostions, which often range in mood from playful wit to fiery passion within a single work.
His orchestral music has been performed by the Phoenix Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, Mesa Symphony, Flagstaff Symphony, Arizona State University, and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. His operas have been staged by Arizona State University, New Mexico State University, and the University of Colorado. His choral, vocal, and chamber works have been performed in the United States and Europe. He has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts (as both librettist and composer), the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and ASCAP.
After receiving his doctorate at the University of Illinois, Shinn taught for three years at the University of New Orleans, then joined the faculty of Arizona State University. He has had composer residencies at New Mexico State University and at the University of Colorado. He retired from university teaching in 2006 in order to compose full time, and now resides in Fort Collins, Colorado.
