Recent and Upcoming Events
Legacy
The Minnesota Symphonic Winds will be performing Legacy at the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) National Convention in Minneapolis on June 26, 2024. This piece was commissioned and premiered by the Farmington High School Band Class of 2022 (pictured below) as a farewell gift to their band directors Bradley Mariska, Erin Holmes, and Elliot Douma. It reflects and commemorates their collective experience in band: learning their instruments, developing as musicians, coping with the disruption of the pandemic, emerging triumphant and looking forward toward new adventures. It was a truly special commission and a memorable and wonderful experience!
Of Lakes and Legends
Written for the Century Chamber Orchestra (at Century College, White Bear Lake, MN), Shirley’s orchestral suite Of Lakes and Legends was recorded by the Croatian Chamber Orchestra in the fall of 2017 with PARMA Recordings and was released in October 2018 on their Navona label on the album Legends and Light, a compilation of contemporary orchestral works.
Legends and Light – Navona Records
The Century Chamber Orchestra premiered Of Lakes and Legends in May 2017 and performed the work again in May 2018 as part of Century College’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
In August 2021, the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Miran Vaupotic, performed Of Lakes and Legends as part of a streamed concert of contemporary orchestral works. Congratulations to the orchestra and conductor on this first-rate performance!
Courage Shining Forth
Originally commissioned by the Minnesota Symphonic Winds in 2013, Courage Shining Forth was performed by the Plymouth Concert Band (David Elmhirst, Director) at their spring concert on May 7, 2023, at 4pm at Wayzata High School. It was livestreamed and can still be viewed on YouTube here. Congratulations to the band on a fine performance!
Forge Ahead!
Forge Ahead! was performed by the Highview Middle School Band, New Brighton, MN (Phill Erickson, Director) at their winter concert Dec. 5, 2022, and at the MMEA Midwinter Clinic on Feb. 16, 2023. Congratulations on being selected to perform at MMEA and on a successful performance!
Shirley was guest conductor for Forge Ahead! at Edison High School, Minneapolis, MN (Lesley Earles, Director) at their winter concert at Dec. 13, 2022. Thank you for the invitation to rehearse and conduct the band!
Deep Freeze
Shirley’s latest band commission, Deep Freeze, is a flex-band work written for the Streamwood High School Band in Streamwood, IL (Max Mollenkamp, Director). It was premiered at their winter concert on December 21, 2022 (fittingly, one of the coldest days of the year in the Midwest).
Cinderesther
In October 2021, Shirley Mier and playwright Brian Vinero rehearsed and recorded a demo of their musical The Allan Street Yiddish Theatre Palace Presents: Cinderesther. It is now available on Vimeo – see below!
Music Directing and Performing
Shirley is excited to be playing piano on the comedy improv stage again! She is currently playing for the all-female Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret show, Gone With the Men, all through March 2024 at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.
In summer 2023, Shirley joined the Masters of Improv, a group of Dudley Riggs’ Brave New Workshop alumni, as their pianist. They’ve performed several gigs at Crooners Supper Club and have several more on the calendar, including Sun. April 7 at 5:30, Sun. May 26 at 5:00, and Sat. June 8 at 2pm as part of the Crooners 2nd Annual Comedy Festival. See you there!
Hell-Burnin’ Sinners
In Spring 2019, Shirley composed and arranged music for Century College’s production of The Grapes of Wrath. Her onstage group of musicians, the Hell-Burnin’ Sinners, has evolved into its own band and they’ve taken it on the road! They have performed at venues including Dalles House, Driftwood Char Bar, Midtown Global Market, Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative, Eagles Club #34, and the Saint Paul Saints as part of their front gate concert series. In summer 2021 they performed at Twin Cities Summer Jam in Shakopee. Visit their website or Facebook page to check out upcoming events.
The Hell-Burnin’ Sinners are: Joshua Larson, guitar; Shirley Mier, melodica & keyboard; Aaron Hooker, banjo & lead vocals; Alison Keller, fiddle; Tim Roeser, percussion; and Blake Radke, bass.
