Tina Shafer, the founder and artistic director of the New York Songwriters Circle, started her career with the historic talent showcase in 1988, serving as a songwriter and top vocal coach before taking over hosting and booking in 1991. Attracting and hosting some of the most acclaimed artists of the last 30 years, including Steven Dorff, Lisa Loeb, George David Weiss, Lana Del Rey, Norah Jones, and Kevin Bents, among myriad iconic talents, the New York Songwriters Circle meets on the first Monday of each month at The Bitter End, New York City’s oldest rock club and a legendary live music venue.
Ms. Shafer’s vocal students have included multiple acclaimed artists and celebrities, including Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Carlton, Lana Del Rey, Abigail Breslin, and Jamie Lynn Sigler. With a decades-spanning legacy as one of the best showcases for discovering new talent, the New York Songwriters Circle is an iconic fixture in the New York City music scene. Ms. Shafer also works at her own studio and enjoys being visited by people from all over the world who travel just for the opportunity to work with her. She has been an invited speaker at New York University and has hosted events where she introduces famous songwriters, including Rodney Crowell and Taylor Swift, who performed at the New York Songwriters Circle when she was only 14 years old.
Ms. Shafer has found consistent and remarkable success in the music industry as a result of her exceptional musical talent and original compositions. She is proud to have created a vibrant community of songwriters and relies on her unique ability to identify and nurture talented individuals. In preparation for her career, she studied music theory and composition at Boston University before graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music theory and composition. In 1978, she earned a master’s degree in piano, composition, and vocal arts, after which she completed the Joan Dornemann Opera Workshop at The Juilliard School in 1988.
Active and celebrated in her professional community, Ms. Shafer is a member of Women in Music Inc. In the long term, she plans to continue running the New York Songwriters Circle while staying immersed in the music industry.
