Shannon Pittaway holding bass trombone
2023, 2022 UK, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2016 Singapore, 2015, 2015 India, 2013, 2011
“I am very excited and humbled to be part of this remarkable vision. I know that this concept has been a dream of Australian musicians around the world for many years and the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm for this project will be incredibly inspiring.”

Shannon Pittaway

Bass Trombone

Principal Bass Trombone – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Head of Winds and Brass – New Zealand School of Music; Australian Brass Quintet; Former Principal Bass Trombone – Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Australian Hometown: Perth
Education: Victorian College of the Arts; Northwestern University, Illinois, USA

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Shannon began playing the cornet at the age of six with guidance from his father Wayne Pittaway and grew up playing in Salvation Army brass bands. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Master of Music from Northwestern University in Chicago. 

Following his studies he was a fellow of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan and later with the Pacific Music Festival Alumni Orchestra which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the the inaugural concert that Leonard Bernstein conducted at the festival.

Shannon is a founding member of the Australian Brass Quintet and the Australian World Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and grants including an honorary fellowship “in recognition for his contribution and achievements in orchestral world music” from Melbourne University. While in Singapore, he was on the faculty of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and tutor for the Singapore National Youth Orchestra.
Shannon Pittaway joined the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2015 as Principal Bass Trombone after 10 years with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Teaching is an important part of his career having been on the faculty of Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of music and now Head of Wind and Brass at the New Zealand School of Music. Shannon is a founding member of theAustralian Brass Quintet and has been awarded grants and fellowships from the Australian Elizabethan Theatre trust and the Federation for Young Australians

Last updated 2023