Jeffrey S. Bishop
Director of Orchestras
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

Contact Information:
SMNW High School
12701 W. 67th Street
SM, KS 66216-2599
(913) 993-7337 Office
(913) 993-7499 FAX
nwbishop@smsd.org Email

Jeffrey S. Bishop is a sought-after composer of educational literature. His works for string orchestra, full orchestra, and concert band have been commissioned and performed throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe. He is the recipient of the 1997 National School Orchestra Association Composition Award for his “Symphony for Strings No. 1”. Recent Commissions include: “Dialogue for Violin and Cello”, commissioned by the Moorhead, Minnesota 6th Grade Orchestra for their appearance at the 2003 ASTA with NSOA National Conference; “Ballade” for the Olathe, Kansas High School Orchestra for their appearance at the 2003 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop; and “Upward Into the Castle Dark,” for the Texas Music Educators Association Region IX Junior High Symphony. He has nearly two-dozen compositions for band and orchestra published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company, Wingert-Jones Music, and C. Alan Publications. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

Mr. Bishop is currently in his sixth year as Director of Orchestras at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in suburban Kansas City. Under his direction, the Northwest Orchestra program has grown from 15 members in one orchestra, to over 85 members in three classes. In addition to the classes that meet during the school day, the Northwest Symphony Orchestra rehearses one evening each week, bringing together the top string and wind/percussion players in the school. The Northwest Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2002 Kansas Music Educators In-Service Workshop. He is also the director of the Northwest Early Music Ensemble, one of only a handful of instrumental Renaissance ensembles on the high school level in the United States. In addition to his duties as orchestra director, Mr. Bishop is also the Coordinator of Fine Arts at SMNW, where he directs the departments of Art, Music, and Drama.

Mr. Bishop also serves as a Music Director/Conductor with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Now in his sixth year with the organization, he conducts the Symphonette Orchestra, the youngest of the full orchestras. The YSKC program also includes two intermediate full orchestras and advanced symphony orchestra, as well as a preparatory string orchestra and two flute choirs.

Mr. Bishop appears often as clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor/composer throughout the United States. Recent appearances include: guest composer/conductor at Northwest Missouri State University; and composer/conductor, Texas Music Educators Association Region IX Junior High Symphony Orchestra (Houston).

In addition to his awards as a composer, he has been recognized for his skills as an educator. In 2001 the SMNW Parent Teacher Association awarded him the Lifetime Membership Award in recognition of the growth of the orchestra program. He has served as an online mentor for the MENC Orchestra Member Forum.

More information on Jeffrey is available at www.jeffreysbishop.com