View source for Harrison Sheckler

{{COI|date=February 2021}}
{{short description|American concert pianist (born 1996)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Harrison Sheckler
| image            = Harrison Sheckler.png
| caption          = Sheckler performing at "Christmas With Wartburg College" Concert
| birth_name       = Harrison James Sheckler
| birth_date       = {{birth-date and age|April 23, 1996}}
| origin           = [[Charles City]], [[Iowa]]
| instrument       = Piano
| genre            = [[Classical music|Classical]]
| occupation       = Pianist
| associated_acts  =
| label            = Halidon Music
| website          = www.harrisonsheckler.com
}}
'''Harrison Sheckler''' (born April 23, 1996) is an American classical pianist, composer, actor, and [[virtual choir]] conductor.
== Early life ==
Sheckler was born in [[Rochester, MN]] and grew up in [[Charles City, IA]], and began playing piano at age of 6 and violin at age 8. In 2014, he won the [[Terrace Hill]] Endowment for the Musical Arts Competition, broadcast on Iowa public television.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charles City teen wins Terrace Hill Piano Competition |url=https://globegazette.com/news/local/charles-city-teen-wins-terrace-hill-piano-competition/article_10602004-11de-5b80-a2e3-a46c520e8025.html |website=Globe Gazette |date=5 April 2014 |publisher=globegazette.com |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the [[University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music|University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music]] and earned a Masters of Music degree in Piano Performance from the [[Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=A music student united more than 300 musicians to create a virtual choir to perform during the pandemic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/10/us/music-student-virtual-choir-trnd/index.html |website=CNN.com |date=10 May 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> Sheckler is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the [[University of Arizona]].
== Career ==
On Oct. 7th, 2021, Sheckler's orchestration of Jeffrey Biegel's piano piece ''Reflections of Justice: An Ode to Ruth Bader Ginsburg'' was premiered by the [[Dallas Symphony]] as part of their concert honoring the late supreme court justice [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]]. The program also included the premiere of [[Ellen Taaffe Zwilich]]'s ''Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg'' for voice, piano, and orchestra which featured American mezzo-soprano [[Denyce Graves]] and pianist Jeffrey Biegel. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Gamboa |first1=Glenn |title=Ruth Bader Ginsburg tribute required innovative donations |url=https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-entertainment-business-chicago-classical-music-3610b954ddc935f656e6e387529dac7f |website=Associated Press |date=6 October 2021 |access-date=19 October 2021}}</ref>
Sheckler has had a multifaceted career as a pianist, composer, and educator. He served as a visiting professor of piano at [[Wartburg College]] in [[Waverly, Iowa]] during the Winter semester of 2021, and again for the 2023–2024 academic year. Currently, he is an adjunct instructor of piano at [[Benedictine College]] in [[Atchison, Kansas]]. <ref>https://www.benedictine.edu/person/harrison-sheckler</ref> In addition to his academic roles, Sheckler is the director of music at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in [[Olathe, Kansas]], where he oversees the music program for multiple weekend services. <ref>https://www.popolathe.org/harrison-sheckler</ref>
== Virtual choir ==
In March 2020, Sheckler launched the Virtual Choir Project Covid-19 by asking fellow musicians and amateur singers to send him vocal recordings of the show tune “[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]",<ref>{{cite web |title=You'll Never Walk Alone" Virtual Choir/Orchestra 15 Countries: 300 People |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=6gpoJNv5dlQ&feature=youtu.be |website=YouTube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref>” from the 1945 [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]] musical ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]''. He thought the lyrics of the song fit the need to stay positive during the coronavirus crisis. He contacted every high school choir director in Iowa to recruit students to participate as well as friends and colleagues. He received 240 vocal submissions and 60 instrumental accompaniments from 15 countries, including Germany, Israel, South Africa, and Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brooklyn Student Unites 300 Musicians For Virtual Performance Of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/brooklyn-student-unites-300-musicians-for-virtual-performance-of-youll-never-walk-alone/ar-BB13NYU1|access-date=2021-02-21|website=www.msn.com}}</ref> Sheckler spent 200 hours combining 300 videos into one piece while making it sound like an orchestral arrangement.<ref>{{cite web |title=300 Musicians From Around the World Team Up for Virtual Rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' |url=https://people.com/human-interest/300-musicians-perform-virtual-rendition-youll-never-walk-alone/ |website=People.com |publisher=People |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The recording was released on [[YouTube]] on May 1, 2020, and [[Viral video|went viral]], eventually securing more than 1.5 million views, and is one of the top 20 virtual choir recordings on the site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virtual Choir Videos |url=https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=virtual+choir&sp=CAM%253D |website=YouTube.com |publisher=YouTube}}</ref> Online collaborations and virtual choir projects, including "You'll Never Walk Alone," have been described as part of the soundtrack of the Covid-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Krishnamurthy|first=Akhila|date=2020-05-22|title=This moment in collaboration: How performing arts are blowing up online|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/this-moment-in-collaboration-how-performing-arts-are-blowing-up-online/article31650132.ece|access-date=2021-02-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
In July 2020, Sheckler contacted former major league baseball pitcher and musician [[Bronson Arroyo]] to participate in a virtual choir recording of “[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game|Take Me Out to the Ballgame]].” Current and former players, including Cy Young winner [[Bret Saberhagen]], as well as announcers and other baseball personalities, were among the final 200 participants in the choir.<ref>{{cite web |title=How a piano student and a former MLB pitcher took 200 fans out to the ball game |url=https://theathletic.com/1972600/2020/08/05/how-a-piano-student-and-a-former-mlb-pitcher-took-200-fans-out-to-the-ball-game/ |website=TheAthletic.com |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref>
In January 2024, Sheckler collaborated with the legendary singer [[Gloria Gaynor]] to release a new gospel music video titled "Talkin' 'Bout Jesus." The song, featured on Gaynor's Grammy® award-winning album "[[Testimony (Gloria Gaynor album)]]," celebrates themes of hope and spiritual resilience. The collaboration was highlighted by the Sheckler Virtual Choir, an innovative approach by Sheckler that brings together vocalists from around the world through technology, creating a unified musical performance despite physical distances.
The project included contributions from featured vocalist Kymberli Joye, musicians [[Elise Trouw]], [[Anna Sentina]], Sophie Giuliani, Harrison Sheckler, Steven Alesso, [[Grace Kelly (musician)]], and The Brass Twins, along with 60 choir members from across the USA. This ensemble created a rich tapestry of sound that embodied the spirit of gospel music. The music video's release coincided with [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]], underscoring its message of hope and unity. <ref>https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/gloria-gaynor-and-harrison-sheckler-release-new-music-video-talkin-bout-jesus/</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{catimprove|date=March 2021}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheckler, Harrison}}
[[Category:1996 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American classical pianists]]
[[Category:University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music alumni]]
[[Category:People from Charles City, Iowa]]