Symphonette, Music Director and Conductor

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 in the United States, Mexico, and throughout Europe. He is the recipient of the 1997 National School Orchestra Association Composition Contest Award with his "Symphony for Strings No. 1”. Recent commissions include: A Double Concerto for Violin and Cello, commissioned by the Moorhead, MN Sixth Grade Orchestra, to be premiered at the ASTA National Convention in 2003; Ballade (for String Orchestra), commissioned by the Olathe (KS) East High School Orchestra, to be premiered at the KMEA Convention in 2003; Raven's Flight (for string orchestra), commissioned by the Norman North (OK) and Wichita East (KS) High School Orchestras; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (for concert band), commissioned by the Central Oklahoma Directors Association; Concerto for Alto Saxophone, commissioned by Wichita State University; and Festival Suite (for multi-level string orchestras), commissioned by the Conroe Independent School District (TX) Orchestra Department.

Bishop studied composition with Dr. Walter A. Mays at the Wichita State University School of Music. An accomplished conductor, Bishop earned his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the Wichita School of Music in 1995. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University in 1993. 

Mr. Bishop is the director of orchestras at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. Under his direction the Northwest Orchestras have increased from 15 members to over 80 in four years. Mr. Bishop was recognized by the Parent Teacher Student Association for his work with the orchestra program and was awarded Lifetime Membership in Kansas PTSA in 2001. Mr. Bishop is also the Division Coordinator of Fine Arts for Shawnee Mission Northwest.