ACE Award Northwest

Northwest ACE Award

Shawn Neisen

By Laura Quaintance

Photo: Shawn Neisen is presented with his ACE Award by Stephanie Trump

Shawn Neisen is a graduate student at North Dakota State University, pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting. Before his current studies, he taught five years of K-12 General and Vocal Music in Battle Lake, Minnesota. Along with directing the choirs at Battle Lake Public School, Shawn also served as the choir director for Eagle Lake Lutheran Church. This experience allowed him to work with singers from 5 to 95 years old. As a dedicated academic and professional choral community member, Shawn is an active participant in the Minnesota chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is also an accomplished pianist, having served as an accompanist for soloists and larger ensembles. Shawn received his Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, studying under Dr. René Clausen and Dr. Michael Culloton.

Since at least 2018, Shawn has served as the tech coordinator for Summer Dialogue. He remembers overhearing Bruce Becker having some tech problems with his phone or computer, to which he stepped in and assisted. The following summer, he was asked to serve as coordinator, and our Summer Dialogues have run smoothly ever since, thanks to him. So many things happen behind the scenes and before these events, and people like him make this possible. Shawn embodies the ACDA membership in the way that he saw a need and fulfilled it, using his talents and skills. He has donated to the FMC endowment fund every year since he has been a member, and is a recipient of graduate studies scholarships, thanks to the FMC offerings. Shawn walks the walk of an ACDA member and choral musician and supports music across our Northwest District area ever since he began his career here. We are proud to award Shawn Neisen with the Advocate for Choral Excellence award for the Northwest District.