Paul Shewan

Orchestra Conductor

Roberts Wesleyan College — Professor of Conducting and Trumpet
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra — Trumpet, and Guest Conductor

DMA (Eastman School of Music), MM (Eastman School of Music), BSc (Roberts Wesleyan College)

Dr. Paul Shewan, Professor Conducting and trumpet at Roberts Wesleyan College, conducts the Wind Ensemble and the Orchestra, and teaches trumpet, brass ensembles, and instrumental conducting. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Roberts Wesleyan and a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music in 1983, where he was a trumpet student of Charles Geyer. He completed the doctoral degree in conducting at the Eastman School of Music in 2004.

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 during its four-week tour of Japan, Taiwan and Macau. More recently at Eastman he has served as visiting professor of conducting.

Dr. Shewan has recorded as trumpet soloist, ensemble member, and conductor on several commercial CDs. For Mode Records he may be heard playing principal trumpet with the Opera Sacra Orchestra in Arthur Honegger’s Christoph Columb. He is featured in many recordings on the Albany label, including Stephen Shewan’s Suite for Trumpet and Piano (Troy 349-Albany Records) and Leo Sowerby’s Fantasy for Trumpet and Organ (Troy 238-Albany Records). His most recent recording as conductor features Randall Thompson's Frostiana for chorus and orchestra, and Ron Nelson's Te Deum for chorus and band with the RWC Chorale and Wind Ensemble (Troy 783-Albany Records).

Dr. Shewan is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra trumpet section and is a frequent guest conductor including the orchestra’s inaugural side-by-side concert with community members in February, 2014. In December, 2015, he performed with the RPO as trumpet soloist and conductor. He has also conducted the Varna Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria).

Dr. Shewan has conducted performances for live public radio broadcasts on the Music at Midday series from Roberts Wesleyan College 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 Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He played often with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1985-2002.

Dr. Shewan has guest conducted the Air Force Band of Liberty on three occasions, the Air Force Heritage of America Band, and several High School district music festivals. In May of 2009, he conducted the Syracuse Symphony Youth Orchestra and was the guest conductor for the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in November, 2014. In the Summer of 2012, he conducted the wind ensemble, Concordia Santa Fe (New Mexico). He is also the conductor of the RWC High School Honors Band Festival. He and his wife Joy have four grown children and two grandchildren.