Shamie Royston

Director of NJYS Jazz and Jazz Orchestra

Born in Denver, Colorado, Shamie Royston is a pianist, composer and educator. The New York Times states: “She is a rhythmic vanguardist…who channels Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen, Ahmad Jamal and McCoy Tyner.” Her exquisite style of piano playing is a combination of traditional and contemporary sounds, which embodies a deep-rooted and soulful spirit. With her fiery, yet soulful piano playing, she has toured Europe and the United States having performed in many of the top jazz venues and festivals in the world.

Shamie has been commissioned to compose and arrange works for Grammy-Winning vocalist Dianne Reeves, Allison Miller and Grammy nominated Tia Fuller, as well as other prominent musicians. In October 2022, Shamie was recently awarded a fellowship from the Berklee College of Music Jazz, Gender and Justice Program, to do a 2 week long residency at the UCROSS Foundation, where highly acclaimed artist of all forms come to work on their craft. She is the first recipient to receive this from the Berklee College of Music. She was also commissioned to compose a song for the 2023 JEN Conference (Jazz Education Network). Her most recent accomplishment is composing a song on Terri Lynn Carrington’s Grammy award winning album “The New Standard” entitled “Uplifted Heart.” This album recently won a Grammy for “Best Jazz Instrumental” in February 2023.

Shamie is not only a performer and composer, but deemed as a Master Educator. At the prestigious Berklee School of Music, Shamie held a full-time a professorship in the Jazz Composition Department. It was here, where she co-directed ensembles with grammy award winning Terence Blanchard and led jazz composition and jazz arranging classes. Shamie has also been on faculty with the prestigious Carnegie Hall NYO (New York Youth Orchestra) Jazz summer program for young musicians, and has adjudicated and worked with college and high school level jazz ensembles. Her most recent endeavor was in July 2024, she was chosen to be on faculty to to teach New York City teachers at a retreat about jazz ensembles and incorporating jazz into their school programs. She has been on many panel discussions including, “Women In Jazz Discussion” at the Monterey Jazz Festival, a presenter at the JEN Conference, and a panelist for school districts on “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Schools” and many more. She is an active member of the community where she continues to inspire students in music education and excellence in academic achievement.

Shamie’s CD entitled, Beautiful Liar which was released in June 2018 has received many great reviews in Downbeat, Jazziz and on NPR. It was also in the first round of voting for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for the 2019 Grammy Awards. Her debut CD entitled Portraits, was released in 2014 under the Hot Tone Music, record label. She is currently working on a new project which will be released in the near future.

As a performer, composer and educator, Shamie Royston will forever be a leading force in music, and music education. She will always be on the precipice of innovation while remaining a preeminent voice in the jazz world.