Paul Shewan, Professor of Instrumental Studies, teaches conducting and trumpet, and directs the wind ensemble, orchestra, and brass ensemble. Dr. Shewan earned his Bachelor of Science degree (Music Education) from Roberts Wesleyan College, and his Masters (Trumpet Performance and Literature) and Doctorate (Conducting) from the Eastman School of Music.
At the Eastman School, Dr. Shewan studied conducting with Mendi Rodan, Neil Varon, Donald Hunsberger, and Mark Scatterday. He appeared in several concerts conducting the Eastman Wind Orchestra, the Eastman Conducting Orchestra, and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. In the summer of 2004, he conducted the Eastman Wind Ensemble on a four-week tour of Japan, Taiwa,n and Macau. He has also served semesters as Visiting Professor of Conducting.
Dr. Shewan is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra trumpet section and has been a guest conductor with the RPO on numerous occasions. He has also conducted the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria). He has performed as principal trumpet at the Skaneateles Festival, NY, and from 1987-2002, he performed frequently with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He has conducted performances for live public radio broadcasts (WXXI) and as soloist and conductor on the Live from Hochstein concert series. He performed J. S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with members of the RPO and was soloist and conductor with the RPO in Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim.
As trumpet soloist and conductor, Dr. Shewan has recorded for Albany Records including Randall Thomson’s Frostiana for chorus and orchestra, and Ron Nelson’s Te Deum for chorus and band with the Roberts Chorale and Wind Ensemble. Mr. Nelson referred to the latter as a “jaw-dropping performance” and declared it to be the definitive recording. Dr. Shewan has over 50 video and audio YouTube recordings of solo trumpet, trumpet with piano or organ, and conducting and trumpet tutorials. He is also published in “The Conductor’s Companion” (compiled and edited by Gary Stith, Merideth Music Publications, 2017).
Dr. Shewan has been a guest conductor with the Air Force Band of Liberty (Boston), the Air Force Heritage of America Band (Virginia), Concordia Santa Fe (New Mexico), and is an active conductor for high school district and regional music festivals. He has conducted the Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO). In 2019 he received the Special Music Educator Award from the RPO for his musical and educational contributions to the community.
Each summer, he conducts the high school orchestra at the Csehy Summer School of Music. Prior to coming to Roberts Wesleyan, Dr. Shewan taught instrumental music for five years in the Holland, NY Central School district. He and his wife Joy have four grown children and six grandchildren.
Sample Recordings of Dr. Shewan (click links for audio):
- Suite for Trumpet and Piano: Alleluia - Stephen Shewan
- Paul Shewan, trumpet
- Stephen Shewan, piano
- No. 156, Arioso - J.S. Bach
- Paul Shewan, trumpet
- John Bodinger, organ
- Christmas Oratorio - Chorus, No. 64 - J.S. Bach
- Paul Shewan, trumpet
- Doug Prosser, Principal Trumpet, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
- Christopher Martin, Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic Orchestra
- John Bodinger, organ