A Chancellor's Council 2018-2019 Distinguished Teaching Award goes to Alan Shinn, Professor of Percussion.
The Texas Tech University School of Music is thrilled to congratulate Alan Shinn,
Professor of Percussion, for recently winning a 2018-2019 Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award. These awards represent the most prestigious honors granted to faculty members throughout
the Texas Tech University system, and we commend Prof. Shinn for this outstanding
achievement.
More about Prof. Alan Shinn
Alan D. Shinn has served as Professor of Percussion since 1982. He holds the Bachelor
of Music Education degree from the University of Missouri and the Master of Music
degree from Texas Tech University. His primary teachers were Tim Lautzenheiser and
Ron Dyer. He served as Chair of the Winds/Percussion Area from 2004-2007. Shinn was
the Director of Jazz Studies at Tech from 1985-2005 and retired from leading the summer
jazz program in 2013. From 2005-2015, Shinn served the School of Music as Associate
Director for Undergraduate Studies. Prior to coming to Texas Tech in 1982 as faculty
percussionist, he served as Instructor of Percussion and Jazz at Southwest Texas State
University in San Marcos, TX. Over 150 percussion students have graduated with music
degrees at TTU since 1982 and are enjoying careers in education (all levels) and performance
as well as music business and industry. Shinn is Principal Timpanist with the Lubbock
Symphony Orchestra and a former member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He has also
served as Principal Timpanist/Percussionist with the Roswell, NM Symphony and has
performed a number of times with the chamber orchestras of Santa Fe Pro Musica and
20th Century Unlimited. Alan Shinn is also a busy drum set artist as well as an active
clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southwest and Midwest. He is currently an
Artist Endorser of Vic Firth and Paiste Cymbals. Alan Shinn was the 2009 recipient
of the William Kerns Performing Arts Award for his contribution to the performing
arts in Lubbock. In November at the 2012 Percussive Arts Society International Convention
in Austin, TX, Professor Shinn received the Society's Lifetime Achievement in Education Award. In 2015, Shinn was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lubbock Roots Historical Council in conjunction with the Caprock Jazz Festival.
More About the Teaching and Research Awards
Established in 2001, the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards are given to individuals who exemplify teaching or research excellence throughout the year. These are the highest honors given by the Texas Tech University System to faculty members at its component institutions. Winners of these awards have significantly advanced teaching or research efforts and are noted as leaders among colleagues and in their respective fields.
The Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Awards are designed to recognize faculty members for teaching excellence, as evidenced by their attainment of distinction both within and beyond the institution for outstanding teaching and outstanding contributions related to excellence in teaching. The Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Awards are designed to recognize outstanding research, scholarship, and creative activity of faculty members in the developmental stages of their careers.