Shawn Copeland

Shawn L. Copeland is a pioneer in musician wellness and performance training. His innovative, creative, and transformational approach has set him apart as a multidimensional musician, pedagogue, and entrepreneur. His unique methods have established him as a leader, culminating in the founding of mBODYed, LLC, a company that is reshaping the landscape of performance training for musicians, actors, and dancers.

A staunch advocate for new music, Copeland is a founding member of TOSCA DUO, Hammers & Reeds Trio, and Relevents Wind Quintet. These chamber groups seek to champion new music by creating innovative performances and commissioning projects. His ongoing work with composer Carlos Velez has resulted in a growing body of solo and chamber music for clarinet, including three quartets, two duos, a sextet, a solo suite, and an album of the composer’s works. Many of these works have been premiered at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFests in 2005, 2006, 2014, 2016, and 2017. Of a Song, a Hammers & Reeds Trio commission, premiered at the 2015 International Double Reed Society Conference in Tokyo, Japan. These chamber groups have also resulted in several recorded albums. Copeland’s most recent recording project, Pulse: The Collected Works of Carlos Velez, includes the Pulse Sonata with Rajung Yang (piano) as well as three clarinet quartets featuring the Velez Clarinet Quartet (Copeland, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lynn Musco, and Jessica Speak). Copeland has also been featured on two albums with TOSCA DUO: a self-titled debut album and another entitled Dimensions, with Rajung Yang (piano). Copeland is a strong supporter of creating equity in the arts. His upcoming projects celebrate diverse people groups and voices, including the recording of works by Nansi Carroll and a recording project entitled Heros and Icons that commemorates the LGBTQIA Fight for Civil Rights.

As an avid orchestral and chamber musician, Copeland has occupied the principal clarinet chair with the Washington/Idaho Symphony Orchestra, e-flat/bass clarinet with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, e-flat clarinet with the Winston-Salem Symphony, principal clarinet of the Fibonacci Chamber Orchestra and the Novus Chamber Ensemble, co-principal of Southern Winds, and performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Bach Festival Orchestra of Winter Park, FL. An accredited teacher and esteemed clinician, Shawn masterfully fuses the Alexander Technique and Body Mapping with an array of somatic modalities, including Somatic Trauma Therapy and Integrative Somatic Coaching. His journey into this holistic world began in 1997 at the Brevard Music Center, igniting a lifelong passion for inclusive and dynamic teaching. He believes that the body is an integral part of the creative process, and he cultivates nurturing spaces where individuals can explore their full potential. His unique pedagogy validates lived experiences and champions growth, having transformed the lives of countless musicians struggling with performance-related challenges.

With an entrepreneurial spirit and a wealth of teaching experience, Shawn is a sought-after clinician, captivating audiences at masterclasses and conferences nationwide. He currently chairs the Committee on Health, Access, and Well-Being for the College Music Society, reflecting his unwavering commitment to these essential values. As a training mentor and Chair of the Diversity and Belonging Committee with the Association of Body Mapping Education, he actively promotes inclusion and equity in the arts. His influence extends to leadership roles in Alexander Technique International, where he serves as a Sponsoring Teaching Member and on the Ethics Advisory Committee.An accomplished author, Shawn is the co-author of Body Mapping for Clarinetists and the highly anticipated The mBODYed Breath: Body Mapping, Breathing, Balance, and Belonging. He boasts an impressive academic background, holding a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Bachelor of Music from Stetson University, and a Master of Arts in Non-Profit/Arts Management from the University of Central Florida. Additionally, he has earned advanced certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University, Somatic Trauma Therapy from The Embodied Lab, and Performing Arts Injury Prevention Education from the Performing Arts Medical Association. Currently, he is pursuing a Master Somatic Practitioner Certification with the Integrative Wellness Academy, further solidifying his expertise.

Shawn is a Performing Artist and Clinician for Buffet Crampon U.S.A., Gonzalez Reeds, Inc., and the Silverstein Group. With his remarkable passion and depth of knowledge, Shawn L. Copeland is genuinely reshaping the future of performing arts!