Dr. Ronald Shinn is a respected pianist, educator, and clinician with decades of experience in performance and pedagogy. He currently serves on the faculty of the International Institute for Young Musicians (IIYM), a prestigious summer piano program that has included distinguished artists such as Emilio del Rosario, Alan Chow, Jack Winerock, Larry Graham, and John Perry. He also continues to direct the highly successful Senior Piano Camp through Samford University, now in its tenth year.
Dr. Shinn previously held the position of Dowling Professor of Music at Huntingdon College, where he was a cornerstone of the music faculty for over 30 years. He holds degrees in piano performance from The University of New Mexico (B.M., student of George Robert), The University of Wisconsin–Madison (M.M., student of Howard Karp), and The University of Alabama (D.M.A., student of Amanda Penick).
A seasoned performer, Dr. Shinn has presented solo and chamber music recitals across the country, as well as duo-piano performances with his wife, Barbara. His workshops and presentations have spanned a wide range of topics, including duet repertoire, teaching sonatas and concertos, and incorporating technology into the piano studio. He recently co-presented at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Conference and the Alabama Music Teachers Association (AMTA) Conference on the topic “iPods, YouTube, and Podcasts in the Studio.”
Dr. Shinn’s students continue to excel in competitions at the local, state, and national levels. Recent achievements include top prizes in the Alabama MTNA High School and Junior High Competitions, MTNA Southern Division Honorable Mentions, and first-place finishes in the Alabama Symphony and Shoals Symphony Concerto Competitions. His students have also been recognized by the National Yamaha Instrument Competition and the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs.
He has adjudicated piano competitions throughout the United States, including for the MTNA Collegiate Artist Competitions in Florida, Georgia, and the Southwest Division. His teaching legacy includes students who have been prizewinners in the Blount-Slawson Concerto Competition, Brevard Music Festival, and other notable events.
In recognition of his commitment to teaching, Dr. Shinn has received numerous honors, including the Huntingdon College Exemplary Teaching Award (1993), AMTA Teacher of the Year (1999), and the Presidential Scholars’ Teacher Recognition Award presented in Washington, D.C. (2007).
Dr. Shinn remains active in both teaching and performing, with a focus on mentoring young pianists and sharing his expertise with the broader music education community.