DIRECTOR & INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

Shantell Funckes is a collaborative pianist with an impressive background.  She graduated from the University of Arizona in December of 2016 with a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance. During her time at the UofA she accompanied for the University of Arizona Symphonic Choir, University of Arizona, Faculty Staff Choir, University Singers, and the  University Community Chorus. She has enjoyed her recent collaborations with the Arts Express Theatre Company, Vail Chorale, 2022 South-Central Regional Choir under the direction of Edith Copley, Tucson Boys Chorus, Helios Chorale, Tucson Civic Orchestra, as well as offering her talents to her church choir and several solo vocalists.  Shantell began her career as a collaborative pianist at the age of 6 when accompanying vocalists from Sabino High School in Tucson Arizona for Regional and All-State auditions.  Since that time she has acquired a vast solo and choral repertoire.   Some of her choral selections include works such as Handle’s Messiah, Mack Wilber’s Requiem, Bach’s G Minor Mass, Brahms Requiem, Beethoven’s C Major Mass, and Faure’s Requiem. 

Shantell is also an accomplished solo pianist.  Her formal study of the piano began in the fall of 2006 under the instruction of Dr. June Chow-Tyne. She has participated in many competitions.  She has won first place in the Tucson Music Teacher’s Associations’ Merit Scholarship and received an Honorable mention for the Music Teacher National Association’s Young Artist Competition at the State level and the Michael Moore Undergraduate Award in the Trester competition.  Shantell has won first place in the Civic Orchestra of Tucson’s Young Artist’s Competition on two separate occasions and has had the privilege of performing each time with the orchestra. She had the opportunity to study piano performance with a full ride music scholarship to the University of Arizona and work under Tannis Gibson. While there she was awarded the Andrew Buchhauser award for dedication to excellence of musicianship. Her repertoire includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Messiaen, Muczynski, Debussy and Ginastera. Throughout the years of study Shantell has shared her love of music with residents in a senior home by offering solo performances.

Shantell Funckes is currently working in Tucson as a Collaborative Pianist at Cienega High School  as well as with professional choirs and theatre programs around town.She has a continuing commitment to excellence and looks forward to a lifetime of sharing her love of music with others through collaboration and solo performances.