Clinics with MasterClass Faculty
American Classic is providing one-time clinics for high school varsity bands, choirs, and orchestras in select locations!
Bingiee Shiu
Bingiee Shiu is the retired the Lead Conductor of the Memorial High School Orchestra program where he conducted the Memorial Sinfonia and Symphony. He began his musical training at the age of five in the Yamaha Piano Program and then spent the next eleven years as a student of esteemed pedagogue Louise Bianchi, head of the Piano Preparatory Program at Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Shiu earned the degrees of Bachelor of Music Education from Abilene Christian University and Master of Music in Conducting from Sam Houston State University. He has additional training in conducting with the American Symphony Orchestra League as well as at the Festival at Sandpoint, with Gunther Schuller.
Mr. Shiu founded the Huntsville Youth Orchestra and the Music Preparatory Program at Sam Houston State University. He has also taught in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, where he participated in the formation of the Swinging Strings Fifth Grade program, the Summer Orchestra Camp and the curriculum guide for elementary and secondary strings. He was also the founding conductor-in-residence for the American Festival for the Arts. He has served on various state committees in Texas, such as the Honor Orchestra Panel, the All-State Chairing Panel and the University Interscholastic League Orchestra Sightreading Selection Committee. He has also been active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for orchestras across the country and has served as worship leader in his church.
Mr. Shiu’s honors include Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, Who’s Who Among American Teachers, Who’s Who in America, Outstanding Young Men in America, and the Cypress-Fairbanks Spotlight Award for excellence in teaching. In the recent past, he was honored as a recipient of the prestigious University Interscholastic League Denius Award, Memorial High School’s Teacher of the Year, Abilene Christian University’s Young Alumnus of the Year Award, the Houston Chronicle Crystal Award, the Spring Branch Teacher of the Year and most recently the Frazier Merriman Award from the American Festival for the Arts. His orchestras consistently won Sweepstakes Awards, was named Texas’ Honor Orchestra, and has performed in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall and five performances in New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
In his retirement, Mr. Shiu serves on the boards of AFA and Kinetic Conductorless Ensemble as well as volunteers for the food bank, community centers and his church.