Adrienne Shannon

Dr. Adrienne Shannon has led an international career as a concert pianist, teacher, arts administrator and multimedia artist. Originally from Toronto, she began her studies with Boris Berlin and later earned a Master of Music at the Juilliard School with Ania Dorfman. She received a Doctor of Arts degree from Ball State University with Mitchell Andrews as her mentor.

Dr. Shannon has performed as a soloist, chamber music and duo pianist. She received 4th prize in Busoni and Munich International Piano Competitions and was a semi-finalist in Leeds International competition. She has done broadcast recordings for CBC Arts National, BBC, PBS, RIAS Berlin and RAE Italy.

PALENAI Piano Duo of Joy Innis and Adrienne Shannon has given concerts across Canada, in Europe, the United States, Israel, the Ukraine, and Korea. Appearances with major Canadian orchestras include the Toronto Symphony, Mostly Mozart Orchestra, National Arts Center Orchestra, Edmonton and Victoria Symphonies, Calgary Philharmonic and Muncie Symphony.

Dr. Shannon has held a number of teaching positions. She was Piano Coordinator at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and taught at the University of Toronto, Mount Royal College, Alberta College, Malaspina University, and Saint Leo University in Florida. In 2002, she and Dr. Innis developed a unique program for St. Lawrence College in Kingston called Music & Digital Media. Currently, she teaches piano, chamber music and piano pedagogy at the DAN School of Drama and Music at Queens University.

From 1986 – 2004, PALENAI Duo acted as Artistic Directors of Pacific Rim Summer Festival on Vancouver Island which became one of “Canada’s finest chamber music festivals” (Canadian Heritage). They also administrated Festival on the St. Lawrence and CBC’s Vienna: A Musical Heritage in Calgary. Over 15 programs involving music, Canadian art and digital visualisations, earned the duo awards from Parks Canada (Centennial of National Parks), Canada Council, Alberta Foundation, and Telus Corporation (Innovation in the Arts nomination). The Sierra Club praised their Rhythm ‘n Views© programs as “innovative expressions conveying the need for preservation of wilderness environments.”