Shannon Christianson Rivera began her formal training on piano, followed soon after by flute, voice, cello, trombone and baritone. Ultimately discovering her love for the flute, Shannon received a Bachelor of Music Performance (Flute), summa cum laude, from Arizona State University and a Master of Music Performance (Flute) from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where she was a student of Jim Walker.
As a flutist, Shannon has been a featured soloist and performed with ensembles including the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, Tempe Wind Ensemble, Brevard Festival Orchestra, Pasadena Lyric Opera, Torrance Symphony and American Youth Symphony. She performs for regional theatrical productions, most notably the 2000 critically acclaimed premiere production of “bare: the musical.” She has served on the faculty at United Christian Youth Camp, Arizona; Northern Arizona University’s Preparatory Music Program, and New Village Charter High School in Los Angeles.
During her time on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Flute Society, Shannon was historian and director of the high school flute choir. Highly sought after as an instructor in the Los Angeles area, she has maintained a private studio for more than twenty years and regularly schedules student recitals and community outreach performances. Several of her students have been granted college music scholarships and won local competitions. In January of 2014, four of her students were award-winners in the Manhattan Beach Rotary Soloist Competition, three of whom were declared the overall winner in their respective age categories.
Shannon founded Community Chamber Music (communitychambermusic.org) in 2014 in partnership with Eric Anderson. Community Chamber Music’s mission is to create joy through music by supporting the artistic, social and emotional development of youth through classical chamber performance, community service, and training under premiere level performing musicians in Southern California. As Executive Director, Shannon serves as the public face of the organization, with senior oversight over general operations, capacity building and sustainability. Shannon serves as a Flute, Woodwind and Mixed Ensemble Coach in Community Chamber Ensembles’ South Bay region.
For more information about Community Chamber Music, please visit their website at CommunityChamberMusic.org.