Shannon McGinnis was awarded the DMA in accompanying and chamber music from the University of Michigan in 2003, as a student of Martin Katz.  From 2003 to 2006 she served as Assistant Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Accompanying at Truman State University, where she taught courses in piano and accompanying and maintained an active schedule as vocal coach, recitalist, and chamber musician.  Dr. McGinnis is currently a member of the vocal coaching staff at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and has previously taught courses in singers' diction.

Highlights of Dr. McGinnis's recent performance schedule include recitals with tenor Nicholas Phan; trumpeter Tage Larsen of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; baritone David Dillard; soprano Jacqueline Collette; and mezzo-soprano Arikka Gregory.  She performs regularly as a member of the Oberon Trio (Benjamin Peled, violin, and Michael Freilich, cello), appearing at multiple venues in the Chicago area and across the United States.

Dr. McGinnis has held staff, intern, and graduate assistantship positions with Columbus State University Opera, Dorian Opera Theatre, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and University of Michigan Opera; other recent engagements include a vocal coach position with the University of Michigan's "Arts in Florence" program at the Villa Corsi-Salviati, in Sesto Fiorentio, Italy, and three summers as staff pianist for the Deutsch für Sänger program at Middlebury College's prestigious German Language School.

Dr. McGinnis received the MM in vocal accompanying and coaching from Florida State University and the BM in piano performance from Meredith College.  Her teachers include Martin Katz, Katherine Collier, Carolyn Bridger, James Fogle, and Carolyn Gresham.