Pianist Shannon McGinnis has been recognized for her partnerships with some of the brightest stars in the classical vocal music world. Her playing has been described as “excellent” (Opera News), “strong and supportive” (Chicago Tribune), and “boldly projected, characterful, and delicately nuanced” (Chicago Classical Review). Recent season highlights include appearances with mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson-Cano, as part of the 2018 Collaborative Works Festival, recitals with baritone Michael Kelly and soprano Melody Moore, and multiple live broadcasts on WFMT with tenor Nicholas Phan. 2019-2020 brought a series of concerts, including three world premieres, with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society’s “Emerging Voices” series, featuring sopranos Joélle Harvey and Sarah Shafer, mezzo-sopranos Amanda Lynn Bottoms and Corinne Winters, tenor Nicholas Phan, and baritones Douglas Williams and Roderick Williams.

A passionate advocate for art song, McGinnis is a founder of Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago, where, as Director of Education, she oversees a series of master classes and workshops for singers and pianists, as well as the organization’s Vocal Chamber Music Fellowship. Also at home in the world of opera, McGinnis has held internships and appointments with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, DePaul University Opera Theater, DuPage Opera, and Kentucky Opera. In 2015 she served as vocal coach and ensemble pianist for the world-premiere performances of Matthew AuCoin’s Second Nature, presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago and “Lyric Unlimited”, and has served recently as an official pianist for the Joyce DiDonato Master Classes at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

In 2015 McGinnis joined the faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she serves as Assistant Teaching Professor of Diction and Vocal Coaching. In addition to her regular teaching responsibilities at CCPA, she has taught a popular graduate seminar on the topic of modern and contemporary American art song; in fall 2020 she will inaugurate a seminar exploring folk song and identity. McGinnis serves as head vocal coach for Prague Summer Nights, a four-week opera and orchestra festival based in the Czech Republic and comprised of young artists from across the globe, culminating in performances at the historic Estates Theatre. In addition, McGinnis is a co-creator of RISE (Resound: Immersive Song Experience), a tuition-free program for emerging artist-entrepreneurs hosted by the Crested Butte Music Festival; RISE enjoys its inaugural season, remotely, in summer 2020.

Prior to moving to Chicago in 2006, McGinnis held the position of Assistant Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Accompanying at Truman State University. She was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts in Accompanying and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan, as a student of Martin Katz, and is a recipient of the 2017 Emerging Artist Award in Music, given by the School of Music Theatre and Dance Alumni Society Board of Governors.