Instrumental Music
Concert Band
Of Lakes and Legends – Band Transcription (2023)
Grade 4 (18:00)
I. Legend of the White Bear; II. Ride on the Rails; III. Parlor Recital; IV. Regatta
Commissioned by Reggie Buresh for the Century College Concert Band – Charlie Preis, Director
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Deep Freeze (2022)
Grade 3 Flex Band (4:30)
Commissioned by the Streamwood High School Band, Streamwood, IL – Max Mollenkamp, Director
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Legacy (2022)
Grade 4 (7:00)
Commissioned by the Farmington HS Band Senior Class of 2022, Farmington, MN – Bradley Mariska, Erin Holmes, Elliot Douma, Directors
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Steampunk Overture (2017)
Grade 4 (3:30)
Commissioned by the St. Michael-Albertville High School Band, St. Michael, MN – Adam Sroka, Director
Published by Grand Mesa Music
Courage Shining Forth (2013)
Grade 4 (6:30)
Commissioned by the Minnesota Symphonic Winds – Dr. Timothy Mahr, Director
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Forge Ahead! (2010)
Grade 2.5 (4:30)
Commissioned by the Cottage Grove Middle School Eighth Grade Band, Cottage Grove, MN – Susan Berg Williams, Director
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View/purchase at Total Sheet Music
Song of the Wind: An Aztec Legend (2009)
Grade 2.5 (5:30)
Commissioned by the Roosevelt High School Band, Minneapolis, MN – Michael Hillman, Director
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Maiden Voyage (2005)
Grade 3.5 (5:30)
Finalist in the First Frank Ticheli Composition Contest, 2005
Published by Grand Mesa Music
Theme and Deviations for Band (2003)
Grade 4 (9:30)
Commissioned by the Seward Concert Band, Minneapolis, MN
Winner of the Fifth Annual H. Robert Reynolds Composers’ Competition in 2004
and performed by the National Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, NY – H. Robert Reynolds, Director
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Orchestra
Of Lakes and Legends: Scenes from White Bear Lake (2017)
Grade 4 (20:00)
Commissioned by the I. Legend of the White Bear; II. Ride on the Rails; III. Parlor Recital; IV. Regatta
Commissioned by the Century Chamber Orchestra, Century College, White Bear Lake, MN – Elliot Wilcox, Director
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Six Scriabin Preludes (2011)
Grade 4 (9:00)
Commissioned by the Commissioned by the Century Chamber Orchestra, Century College, White Bear Lake, MN – Elliot Wilcox, Director
Orchestral arrangement of piano preludes by Alexander Scriabin
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Visages: A Song Cycle for Mezzo-Soprano and Orchestra (2005)
Grade 4 (17:00)
Commissioned by the University of Minnesota Orchestra (Doctoral Dissertation Thesis, 2005)
Songs: “Tibetan Girl,” “Luguhu’s Calling,” and “Beijing Hutongs” (text by Diana Fu)
Also available in piano-vocal and chamber orchestra arrangements
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Chamber Ensemble
A Light Breeze (2007)
Percussion solo (miniature)
Available on Score Exchange
Express Lane (100 items or fewer) (2007)
Percussion Ensemble (miniature)
Available on Score Exchange
Blink: a string quartet in 100 notes (2007)
String quartet (miniature)
Available on Score Exchange
Theatre Works
Children’s Musicals
Shirley has composed music for over a dozen children’s musicals for Stages Theatre in Hopkins, most in collaboration with playwright Jennifer Kirkeby. For a complete list, download Shirley’s CV.
Twelve Dancing Princesses (2016)
Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby
Commissioned by Stages Theatre
Published by Dramatic Publishing
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (2009)
Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby
Commissioned by Stages Theatre
Published by Dramatic Publishing
Nancy Carlson’s “Harriet and Walt” (2007)
Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby
Commissioned by Stages Theatre
Published by Concord Theatricals
Madeline’s Christmas (2004)
Libretto by Jennifer Kirkeby
Commissioned by Stages Theatre
Published by Dramatic Publishing
Other Musicals and Theatre Works
Shirley has composed music for numerous other stage projects, including musicals, incidental music for plays, settings of Shakespeare texts, and scores for Greek drama. For a complete list, download Shirley’s CV.
The Play That Goes Wrong (2022)
Incidental music
Century College Theatre
The Allen Street Yiddish Theatre Palace Presents: Cinderesther (2021)
Libretto by Brian Vinero
A retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale in the Yiddish Theatre tradition
Listen on Vimeo
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2021)
Century College Theatre
Listen on YouTube or bandcamp
She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms (2020)
Century College Theatre
Listen on YouTube or bandcamp
Hecuba (2012)
Euripides, translated by Brian Vinero
Chants and incidental music
Staged reading at the Playwrights Center, 2012
Alexander at Delphi (2002, rev. 2010)
Libretto by Minrod Mier
One-act musical drama based on Alexander the Great
2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival
University Theatre, University of Minnesota (Master’s Thesis), 2002
The Skid Row Kids Save Christmas (1999, rev. 2008)
Libretto by Minrod Mier
Holiday musical
Morris Park Players, 2008
Far From the Tree Productions, 1999
Strange Attractor (2007)
Electro-acoustic ballet exploring chaos theory
Funded by the American Composers Forum and premiered by The Dance Institute (formerly Ballet Arts Minnesota)
Soulless, Bloodsucking Lawyers: A (Brief) Musical! (2003)
Musical co-composed with playwright Toni Halleen
Bryant Lake Bowl, 2004
2003 Minnesota Fringe Festival
Much Ado About Nothing (2002)
Text settings and incidental music
University Theatre, University of Minnesota
Excerpt: Sigh No More
Heart of the Faerie Queen (2000)
Play by Minrod Mier
Incidental music score
2000 Minnesota Fringe Festival