Valerie Shields (b. 1951) lives in Seattle, where she is organist at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church and accompanist at Temple de Hirsch Sinai. She served as Director of Music at St. Lukeŭs Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, Illinois from 1974–1985 and was assistant director of the Northwest Girlchoir from 1985–1997.
The needs of her children's choirs, congregations and commissioning choirs have been the inspiration for over eighty published pieces. Shields' composing and arranging reflect her wide experience as a choir director, organist, pianist and instrumentalist. She is committed to the musical expression of children and enjoys teaching them and encouraging them to improvise and compose their own texts and music. Shields' passion and love for creating is also expressed in her garden.
She received her Bachelor of Music degree in organ and violin from St. Olaf College and a Master of Music degree in organ from Northwestern University.
Browse compositions by Valerie Shields
