headshot of Shannon Kitelinger

Dr. Shannon Kitelinger

Professor of Music

Director of Bands
Undergraduate Advisor

San Diego

Location
MU-224

Bio

Shannon Kitelinger is the Director of Bands at San Diego State University (SDSU) where he conducts the university Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band as well as teaching courses in conducting, wind literature, and serving as the undergraduate music advisor.

Dr. Kitelinger received a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) and Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His primary conducting teachers include Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Dennis Fisher, and Jack Stamp.

Shannon has taught at the high school, middle school, elementary, and university levels, as well as serving as the assistant conductor for the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, a professional wind band based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. During his time at SDSU, ensemble enrollment has tripled and his groups have been featured at several local, state, and regional conferences. Beyond regular work as a guest conductor and clinician across the nation and also invitations to Europe and Japan, initiatives in San Diego include co-founding the San Diego Summer Music Institute, a weeklong workshop held annually at San Diego State University through a partnership with the San Diego Winds and the Drum Major Academy at SDSU in partnership with World Drum Major Association (WDMA).

Dr. Kitelinger has been a recording production assistant for the critically acclaimed GIA Windworks series, the Klavier Wind Project, the GIA Composer’s Collection, Naxos Wind Band Classics, and also the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. He is published in ten volumes of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band as the author of teacher’s resource guides ranging from beginning to advanced repertoire.

Awards and honors include: 2012 Music Educator of the Year from the California Music Educator’s Association-Southern Border Section, quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, and 2010 IUP Young Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Kitelinger’s professional memberships include: The College Band Directors National Association, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity.

Shannon is grateful for the impact and inspiration that all his teachers and colleagues have had on his personal and professional life, including his wife, Jennifer, his daughters Alexis and Alyssa, and his family and friends.

Education

  • DMA, University of North Texas, Denton
  • MM, University of North Texas, Denton
  • BS, Music Education, cum laude, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA