Bio : Artists

John Shaw : Percussion

John Shaw is the principal percussionist with The Florida Orchestra, a position he has held since 1996. He had previously served as a section percussionist with The Florida Orchestra beginning in 1992. A native of Milton, Florida, Shaw earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University, where he studied with Gary Werdesheim, and a Master of Music degree from Temple University as a student of Alan Abel. He received additional training at the Aspen Music Festival and Grand Tetons Orchestral Seminar. In addition to his duties with The Florida Orchestra, Mr. Shaw is the head of the percussion studio at St. Petersburg College. He has been featured as a soloist with The Florida Orchestra many times, performing the Concerto for Percussion by Joseph Schwantner, Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion by Bartók, and Veni, veni Emmanuel by James MacMillan.  His seven-member steel drum band, the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra, was featured with The Florida Orchestra in March 2005, and again in October 2009, as part of the orchestra?s pops series. The steel drum band has received acclaim for its first recording, which is now available on iTunes. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Florida Orchestra principal harpist Anna Kate Mackle, and their children. This is his fourth season with EMF.