Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms, Mariah Carey, Alison Krauss, Tori Amos, John Mayer, Paula Cole, Brian McKnight, Lisa Loeb, Dave Matthews Band, Leona Naess, Jonatha Brooke, Nichole Nordeman, Celine Dion, Natalie Imbruglia, Sting, Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow, and the list goes on...
Other inspirations have been my mentors: Edward Knight, composer; Ofer Ben-Amots, composer; Martile Rowland.
Born in Colorado, NYC-based singer/songwriter Steph Shaw’s upbringing, education and experience in the Big Apple have all shaped her music.
Steph began her schooling at The Colorado College as a dance major, choreographing for faculty and student shows and various nationally-competing dance squads. Alongside her pursuit of dance was a growing love for singing and composing. Often, she would find herself collaborating with composers in her dance work, nurturing a budding interest in music to the point that she transitioned her education to major in the subject. Steph began performing and arranging music for a mixed a cappella group on campus called “Room 46,” for whom she also composed original work. She also teamed up with the school’s “Collegium Musicum” choir to tour Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic singing Renaissance music at several remarkable venues. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Steph desired to deepen her interest and passion for music by pursuing graduate programs that would combine her love for singing and composing. She studied at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music (Oklahoma City University) where she garnered experience in composing chamber, instrumental, and choral works.
Steph moved to New York City in 2004 as it was high on her Bucket List. “Just for one year,” she told herself as the City took hold of her. Now four years into her residency, Steph has reached new benchmarks in songwriting and composing. She released a 5-song EP entitled Days in Between in the summer of 2007 which “combines pop melodies with more classically-driven piano accompaniments.” The project familiarized Steph with the technical side of big-music production involving the coordination of multiple music studios in the City along with the collaboration of co-artistic and executive producers Nick Mancini, Tony Mugavero, and David Shaw. This work has also provided a solid repertoire for live performances around New York at venues like the late CBGB’s, Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Knitting Factory, The Baggot Inn, and Caffe Vivaldi.
Steph has been named the “composer in residence” at Calvary Episcopal Church (New York City), where her choral piece “Psalm 32: You are My Hiding Place” was premiered in the Fall of 2007. Most recently, Steph visited Germany in August 2008 to participate in the ISAM composers' competition.
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Check out more of Steph's photos at her Flickr page
Thank you! Yes, that was the never ending train ride!! (HaHa!) But it was all worth it! I enjoyed listening to your group. A lot of good musicianship and practice went into your compositions. I can tell you really love it! I hope our paths cross again on the BIG stage!! Good Luck and hope to see you soon.
Little Things - Did you really write that? That song the way you perform it is so classic it feels like it could have come from another era. Really enchanting.
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I have to echo everyone else's sentiment, "Little Things" is so beautiful. I love it, it made me want to cry because I could relate to the lyrics, ha! I'm so proud of you. Mama says!
steph, had so much fun at your show last nite! you and the band sounded wonderful. looking forward to the next one lady. (p.s. deep in to-do lists in my lovely new journal!!)
