Chronology of the professional music career of Shea Lolin

 

2001-2004
Undergraduate at Colchester Institute studying with Charles Hine and Angela Fussell (clarinet), Francis Reneau (piano), Alan Bullard (composition) and Christopher Phelps (conducting). Won multi awards including John Myatt Cup for Solo Woodwind in 2004. Principal Clarinet for the Colchester Institute Symphonic Wind Orchestra (conducted by Charles Hine), and Colchester Institute Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Christopher Phelps).  In 2004 the Colchester Institute Symphonic Wind Orchestra was a finalist for the National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) in 2004 at the Royal Northern College of Music.

2004-2005
Temporary Head of Music, Canon Palmer Catholic School. Director of Instrumental Studies, conductor of wind ensembles. Choral Director and commissioned to write a piece for school choir for Christmas 2004 called Long, Long Ago for piano, choir and trumpet.

2004-2019
Director of Music, St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Manor Park.

2004-2010
King Soloman High School, Conductor of Wind Ensemble and clarinet tuition

 2005-2007
Classical Music Co-ordinator, Newham Music Month and Under the Stars including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Central Park, East Ham. Oversaw the entire music programme in partnership with Newham Council. In 2006 Shea Lolin gave a clarinet recital at Newham Academy of Music which included Clarinet Sonata No.2, Op.120 No.2 by Brahms and Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 by Robert Schumann. In 2006 a Songs of Praise service was broadcast from St John’s Church, Stratford: Shea Lolin (conductor), Nick Sherwood (organ), Martin Seymour commissioned by Shea Lolin to write a new work entitled Like as the Hart. In 2007 Shea Lolin performed the Clarinet Quintet, Op.115 by Brahms with the Enigma String Quartet.

2005-2010
Director of Music, St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church, Gidea Park.

2006-2018
Musical Director, East London Clarinet Choir. During the period leading up the 2012 Olympic Games, there were many performing opportunities to culturally regenerate Stratford, East London.

2008-Present
Principal supplier of music and musicians for T. Cribb & Sons Funeral Directors, east London. Also official supplier with West & Coe, Co-operative Funeralcare, Dignity and many independent funeral directors as an organist and choral director.

2008-2020
Woodwind Orchestra Play Day. National Woodwind event held in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Cardiff. Attracted the attention of over 1000 woodwind enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. The event was sponsored by many woodwind brands including Barnes & Mullins, Vandoren, D’Addario, Selmer, Sempre Music, Wood, Wind & Reed (Cambridge), Windstruments, John Packer.

2009-2020
Principal Conductor, City Wind Orchestra

2010-2015
Clarinet Tutor, External Examiner, Moderator, Conductor of Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Band at Morley College, London. Selected in 2012 to artistically direct the largest summer school for Morely College including an exhibition on the complete wind music of Gustav Holst. Materials on display from BBC Archives, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and the British Library. The summer school included the first performance of Praise of King Olaf by Gustav Holst since its premiere. The score was reconstructed and typeset by the autograph score at the British Library by Shea Lolin.

2010-Present
Visiting tutor and conductor of Ionian Clarinet Choir, Europe's oldest clarinet choir who are based in north London.

2012-2014
Secretary, British Music Society

2013-2017
Board member of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britian (CASSGB), leading many single reed choir workshops for events including at Kneller Hall, Trinity College of Music and Chetham's School of Music. Executive Director from 2016-2017 of CASSGB during its 40th Anniversary Year, leading a single reed day at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD).

2013-Present
Visiting tutor and conductor for Kingshill Clarinet Choir Play Day held in Great Missenden.

March 2014
First time collaborating with and conducting the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra for Twisted Skyscape, the first commercially released album of music for woodwind orchestra.

2014-Present
Recording producer and engineer. This included Evocations by Peter Heron Evocations, Hexachordum Apollinis by Johann Pachelbel, performed by Paul Bambrough who is Principal of the Purcell School. In 2016, Shea produced an album of wind orchestra music by Keiron Anderson, entitled Homecoming. Shea also produced The Eleanor Crosses in 2020 by Martin Ellerby with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Organ recordings made for Viscount Organs, Regent Classic Organs and for the Global Organ Group, Makin Organs with Professor Ian Graham Tracey DL.

July 2015
Twisted Skyscape released, the first and only commercial recording of a woodwind orchestra. The release date coincided with the First Night of the BBC Proms 2015 because featured composer Gary Carpenter was the commissioned composer for the opening of the classical music festival. Dadaville (2015) was premiere. Twisted Skyscape attracted the attention of many national reviewers including Classical Music Magazine who ran a feature length article on the album. Classical Music Magazine described Twisted Skyscape: “A fantastic way to delve into the colourful world of the woodwind orchestra, with music which is varied but always approachable.”

2016-2019
Director and Owner of Eminent UK, the UK dealership of Eminent organs. Complete rebrand of the company, setting up three showrooms in Somerset, London and Durham. Set up strong cross-boarder trading with Netherlands where Eminent headquarters are situated. This was done during the time when the UK was exiting the European Union. Shea Lolin saw Eminent UK into a new era, exhibiting at the Music and Drama Education Expo at Kensington Olympia. In 2018, Shea wrote a publication for Eminent UK on additive synthesis, the sound generation for Eminent classical organs. Shea oversaw the filming and recording of Eminent classical organs with organist Simon Lumby which went viral on social media.

5-7 February 2016
Musical Director for Wind, Brass and Percussion weekend, Isle of Man Wind Orchestra. This included an appearance on Manx Radio.

2016-Present
Visiting tutor and conductor for Clarinet Choir Play Day, Thornbury Clarinet Choir.

2016
Conductor of Woodwind Sectional, Birmingham Symphonic Winds

2017
Principal Organist for the Centenary Year Celebrations for the Diocese of Brentwood. This included a Diocese Mass at the Catholic National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady, Walsingham with 10,000 in attendance. At this event, Shea Lolin provided a digital organ as Director of Eminent UK.

2017-Present
Organist for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Epping and Eppig URC.

2018-Present
Adjudicator at the Norfolk County Music Festival for wind, brass and percussion.

2018
Guest conductor, Ealing Symphony Orchestra

2019-Present
Assisting with Angel Orchestra and taking woodwind sectionals.

February 2021
Collaboration started with the Janacek Philharmonic Ostrava (JFO) and first recording made. Recorded woodwind ensemble works by Shea Lolin. Further works came by Bill Whiston in September 2023 and Keiron Anderson and Adam Roberts in June 2024.

April 2022
Tutor and conductor Alto + Contra alto Clarinet Play Day – Stapleford granary, Cambridge

2023
Set up MASTERTRACK, an audio production company and music label specialising in orchestral masters. Working with colleagues Christopher Hussey and Jonas Persson, the company records and masters top-end audio for a diverse range of clients from private individuals to commercial synchronisation solutions.

January 2024
Streaming platform playlist curator and creator. Classical Explorations is a blog written in an informal style, released once a month (last Friday of each month) inviting people to listen to playlists embedded on www.shealolin.co.uk

January 2024
Released Chromosphere, the second commercially released album of woodwind orchestra music. The album was featured on BBC Radio 3 on Essential Classics 09/01/24 presented by Georgia Mann, Record Review 13/01/24 presented by Andrew McGregor and Record Review Extra 14/01/24 presented by Hannah French.

Andrew McGregor said: “An absolute delight this performance… Excellent playing, an imaginative range of new music for wind ensemble.” Record Review, BBC Radio 3

The album was reviewed by Gramophone Magazine in the January 2024 issue: “Chromosphere is an engaging collection of attractive new works – all receiving first recordings – in splendidly mellifluous performances” Guy Rickards, Gramophone, January 2024.

Chromosphere was included on editorial playlists with Spotify and Apple Music in January 2024.

June 2024
First recording for Sony Classical in Smecky Studios, Prague. The orchestral works of Louise Farrenc were recorded. All releases were selected on editorial playlists for Spotify and Apple Music.