Chronology of the professional music career of Shea Lolin

 

From 2001-2004, Shea Lolin was an 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 the Brooks Trophy for Woodwind Ensemble in 2004 and the 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.

From 2004-2005 Shea Lolin was 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.

From 2004-2019 Shea Lolin was Director of Music at St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Manor Park.

From 2004-2010 Shea Lolin conducted and tutored at King Soloman High School (Wind Ensemble and clarinet tuition)

From 2005-2021 Shea Lolin was Director of Music, Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble. During this tenure, Shea Lolin commissioned many contemporary composers including Ruth Young, Alan Bullard, Jeffery Wilson, Dr Martin Ellerby, Judith Bingham OBE to write for woodwind orchestra. Over 300 arrangements commissioned for woodwind orchestra. Directed on several large-scale concerts at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith (2008), St John’s, Smith Square (2010) LSO St. Luke’s (2012). Also lead instrumental weekends at Conway Hall and Coram’s Fields.

WOODWIND ORCHESTRA COMMISSIONS:

 

From 2005-2007 Shea Lolin was 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.

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

From 2006-2018 Shea Lolin was 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.

From 2006-2010 Shea Lolin was Manager of Clarinet Classics and Saxophone Classics. Working alongside Victoria Soames Samek on this iconic single reed music label. From 2008-2010 I also acted as Manager for Victoria Soames Samek.

From 2008-Present Shea Lolin is a 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.

From 2008-2020 Shea Lolin was Artistic Director of the 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.

From 2009-2020 Shea Lolin was Principal Conductor of the City Wind Orchestra.

Form 2009-2016 Shea Lolin was Tutor at Benslow Music for several courses including Clarinet Choir Weekend, Quintessential Clarinets and ClarinetFest. It was during the 2012 ClarinetFest that Daniel Basford was commissioned to write a new work for clarinet choir called Offa-torium. Shea Lolin conducted the East London Clarinet Choir in a performance which included the world premiere of Offa-torium by Daniel Basford on Friday 6 January 2012.  

From 2010-2015 Shea Lolin was 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.

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

From 2012-2014 Shea Lolin was Secretary, British Music Society

From 2013-2017 Shea Lolin was 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).

From 2013-Present Shea Lolin was Visiting Tutor and conductor for Kingshill Clarinet Choir Play Day held in Great Missenden.

From March 2014 Shea Lolin first collaborated with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra for Twisted Skyscape, the first commercially released album of music for woodwind orchestra.

From 2014-Present Shea Lolin is a 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.

From July 2015 Shea Lolin released Twisted Skyscape, 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.”

From 2016-2019 Shea Lolin was 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.

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

From 2016-Present Shea Lolin was Visiting tutor and conductor for Clarinet Choir Play Day, Thornbury Clarinet Choir.

In 2016, Shea was Conductor of Woodwind Sectional, Birmingham Symphonic Winds

In 2017 Shea Lolin was 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.

From 2017-Present Shea Lolin is Organist for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Epping and Eppig URC.

From 2018-Present Shea Lolin is an Adjudicator for the Norfolk County Music Festival for wind, brass and percussion.

In 2018 Shea Lolin was Guest conductor of the Ealing Symphony Orchestra.

From 2019-Present Shea assists with rehearsals with the Angel Orchestra and taking Woodwind Sectionals.

From February 2021 Shea started collaborating 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.

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

In 2023 Shea Lolin set up MASTERTRACK, an audio production company 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.

In December 2023, the Czech Centre (part of the Czech Embassy) has recognised the recording work that Shea Lolin has undertaken in the Czech Republic. The Czech Centre is part of the Czech Embassy and exists to promote Czechia by showcasing Czech culture, innovations and creativity in the UK.

In January 2024 Shea Lolin started Classical Explorations as a 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

In January 2024 Shea Lolin 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.

On 8 February 2024 Shea Lolin officially launched the album Chromosphere at Czech Centre. The evening comprised a live performance from a selection of works from Chromosphere as works recorded with the Janacek Philharmonic. 2024 marks the 200th anniversary of Bedřich Smetana’s birth and as part of the Czech Centre’s 2024 Year of Music, Smetana will be performed and championed.

On 13 August 2024 The Czech Philharmonic were nominated for the Orchestra of the Year 2024 award by the Gramophone Classical Music Award. The highly acclaimed album Chromosphere, conducted by Shea Lolin, was highlighted in the nomination for the esteemed Orchestra of the Year 2024 award by the Gramophone Classical Music Awards.

In June 2024, Shea conducted the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra in Smecky Studios for a Sony Classical release which included orchestral works and arrangements by Louise Farrenc. All releases were selected on editorial playlists for Spotify and Apple Music.

In June 2025, Wise Music has agreed to represent orchestral masters for MASTERTRACK.

In July 2025, Shea conducted the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra in Smecky Studios in several recordings including: Kevin Raftery “Trumpet Concerto”, Christopher Marshall “Threnody” (for string orchestra), Rebecca Taylor “Christmas Tango” (for string orchestra).

MASTERTRACK made exclusive recordings with the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra for library music.