Mary Shemon Flute Studio

Mary Bassett Shemon enjoys a versatile career that includes performing and teaching across the Midwest. She frequently performs with the Kansas City Symphony as a substitute flutist and piccoloist and has also performed with the Saint Louis Symphony, the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, and the Missouri Symphony. Ms. Shemon previously held the position of flute 2/piccolo with the Florida Grand Opera and the Palm Beach Symphony.

An experienced teacher, Ms. Shemon maintains a robust private flute studio in the Kansas City area where she helps students of all ages discover their passion for music. She has held interim professor positions at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory and the University of Kansas—Lawrence where she taught undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in flute performance, music education, and music therapy. Her personal commitment to lifelong learning has led her to ongoing training in the Dalcroze Method and Suzuki Early Childhood Education, to supplement her dedication to the Suzuki flute method.

A firm believer in giving back to her community, Ms. Shemon has taken on leadership roles within two local non-profit arts organizations. As President of the Heart of America Suzuki Association, she organizes continuing education events for Suzuki teachers across 5 states, as well as an annual Winter Workshop for violin, viola, cello, flute, and early childhood students. She also serves on the board of the Kansas City Flute Association. In this role, she recently organized a new, online masterclass series for flutists across Kansas and Missouri to connect and learn during the pandemic.

Ms. Shemon received her Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. She also studied at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Ms. Shemon has immense gratitude for her teachers, Richard Graef, Carolyn Hoyer, Walfrid Kujala, Jennifer Nitchman, Mark Sparks, Kimberly Valerio, and Jim Walker.