Shanyse Strickland 

- SHANYSE STRICKLAND IS A MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, VOCALIST, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER. WHILE FRENCH HORN IS PRIMARY HER INSTRUMENT, MS. STRICKLAND PLAYS A VARIETY OF WOODWIND AND BRASS INSTRUMENTS.

Originally from Akron, OH, Shanyse began her musical journey as flautist, then as a horn player. Having experience playing multiple instruments, she began composing and arranging for large ensembles like the marching band when she was in her sophmore year of high school. After some life changing events, Shanyse decided to pursue horn as her instrument of choice for her education. She received her Bachelor of Music degree at Youngstown State University where she studied with the late great Bill Slocum, previous principal horn of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Associate Principal horn under the direction of George Zsell. Shanyse also studied with Stacie Mickens while at YSU, and eventually went on to study with Zach Smith of the Pittsburgh Symphony at Duqesne University to obtain her Masters in Music. Stepping away from the traditional ways of horn, Shanyse obtained an Artist Diploma in Jazz French Horn in May 2021.

Utilizing her versatility to its fullest, Shanyse has had a career full of new and innovative experiences with world class musicians all over the country. While pursuing her undergrad at Youngstown State University, she played trombone and flute for the reuniting Ohio Players, under the direction of the bands piano player and songwriter, Billy Beck. While in Pittsburgh, she was the flute feature of a local group called the Level Up Band, where she performed a variety of genres including neo-soul, jazz and R&B from the past and present. Paying homage to rock n roll pioneer Betty Davis, Shanyse performed as a guest artist with the Davis’s original band as a part of an independent documentary filmed in Pittsburgh. She was the winner of the 2016 Jazz Solo Competition at the International Horn Symposium (IHS), where she was able to perform in front of jazz composer and hornist David Amram, along with a host of other jazz hornists. After moving to New Jersey, Shanyse performed at the 2019 Heisman Trophy Ceremony aired on ESPN, along with performing and recording parts for an NBA commercial. Expanding her love for writing music, Shanyse has written and published three original works, one of which was performed by the horn section of the New Haven Symphony titled “Moods.” Shanyse was also commisioned to write a brass trio for the brass faculty of the University of North Texas titled “A B.O.P.”

Shanyse aims to bridge the world of classical and jazz music together, while also bridging the gap that exists between the African American community and classical music. In order to achieve both sides of the spectrum, Shanyse plans to release an original EP that takes excerpts from Classical music and surrounds them in a neo-soul/jazz context, giving the best of both worlds. Using elements of the Western European tradition, Shanyse aims to show that African Americans possess the ability to execute classical music well, in a way that does not eliminate the soulful joy that naturally stems from the skin that they are in.