"I was put on earth to aid in the celebration of the entire human race."
-Dr. Shana Mashego
ABOUT
Dr. Shana Mashego is a classical artist, administrator, ethnomusicologist, and published researcher who is fully committed to the beauty of scholarship, music, and humanity.
"For as long as I can remember, I have been intrigued by the uniqueness of humanity, the beauty of education, and the supernatural power of music. My lifelong commitment is to aid in the celebration of all humankind. I believe that diversity, education, and the arts are the energies of life itself."
-Dr. Shana Mashego
TEACHING & PERFORMANCE VIDEOS
ENNEAGRAM RHETI RESULTS
DR. SHANA MASHEGO
Enneagram Score:8
Eights are people of vision and action. They can take what looks like a useless, broken-down shell of a building and turn it into a beautiful home or office or hospital. Likewise, they see possibilities in people, and they like to offer incentives and challenges to bring out people's strengths. Eights agree with the saying "Give a person a fish and they eat for a day. But teach them how to fish, and they can feed themselves for life." Eights know this is true because they have often taught themselves "how to fish." They are self-starters and enjoy constructive activity by building up themselves, others, and their world.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Shana Mashego holds the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music & the Master of Arts Degree in Music & Research from Texas Southern University, as well as the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Ethnomusicology & Voice from The University of Arizona. During Dr. Mashego's doctoral degree journey, her interest in the lives of African Americans came into full focus. Shana's initial research concentrations were primarily centered in Ethnomusicology and Voice with a focus upon the lives and works of Black Female Composers, so, therefore, she was given the opportunity to receive extensive instruction in Anthropology with an emphasis on African American culture from the Research Faculty of The University of Arizona Africana Studies Program. This specialized education combined with a Graduate Assistantship with The University of Arizona Center for English as a Second Language led Dr. Mashego to a love for the beauty of ethnicity.
Upon receiving her first university teaching appointment, Dr. Mashego made a commitment to serve as an advocate for underrepresented and international students. Dr. Mashego believes that if each student is given the proper amount of attention and equitable opportunities, they will become whole and balanced scholars. To this end, Dr. Mashego has worked in the college classroom for her entire career, even while balancing concurrent diversity consultancy appointments.
As a faculty member, Dr. Mashego has served students at Texas Southern University, The University of Arizona, Lone Star College System, the Stratford University Language Institute, American University, and most recently, George Washington University. During her teaching appointment at Texas Southern University, Dr. Mashego developed additional curricula to accompany the standard academic planning for the music department’s Fine Arts Appreciation core course and for the department’s Song Literature course. This additional curricula gave students an overview of the accomplishments of African American musicians and fine artists and allowed each student to explore the compositional output and lives of African American classical composers. This curricula has now become the outline of a comprehensive ‘live’ textbook project that encompasses the vast contributions of the African American musician while describing their historical chronology.
Dr. Mashego's work probes into the origin story of African Americans, as well as their contributions, struggles, triumphs, and disparities while living inside of the United States of America. She also studies and disseminates information related to the US Political System as it relates to African Americans, Indigenous Americans, and People of Color. Dr. Mashego has contributed research and designed diversity and inclusion training programs for many organizations including ongoing work with Kansas Interfaith Action, a multi-faith, advocacy organization committed to eradicating social injustice. For over seven years, Dr. Mashego worked with various congregations of The Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church as a Worship Arts and Diversity Administrator. During this time, Dr. Mashego aided churches in their overall worship arts programming management as well as their diversity and inclusion efforts in worship, music, arts, and staffing.
In 2014, Dr. Mashego founded Dr. Shana Mashego & The Sacred Ensemble, A Christian Hymn Preservation Ensemble where she serves as Soprano and Visionary. The Ensemble includes Soprano & Piano Quintet, and together they enjoy a variety of recording opportunities including the completion of three album recordings as part of a seven-volume hymn and spirituals preservation project, and performances on a wide range of stages.
As a private voice instructor, Shana believes that the vocal instrument is one of the strongest and most delicate of musical instruments. She is a strong proponent of vocal health and ensures that every student she encounters is equipped with a thorough knowledge of the vocal anatomy and the unique physics of the vocal instrument. Dr. Mashego is also an expert on the preservation and performance practice of the Negro Spiritual.
Her ongoing study of the complex system of American Social Policy and the vast musical contributions of the African American musician is a testament to Dr. Mashego's allegiance to the continual research of the African American. Dr. Shana Mashego's hope is to continue to live a life filled with music, teaching, research, and the work of diversity and inclusion.
PUBLICATIONS
Dr. Shana Mashego & The Sacred Ensemble, The Hymn Project, A Seven Volume Set of Internationally Celebrated Hymns set for Piano Quintet, String Quartet, Wind Ensemble, Organ, Harp & Soprano. Produced by Sacred Records, Vol. 1 2015, Vols. 2 & 3 2016.
Dr. Shana Mashego, “Formality meets Hip Hop: The Influence of the Hip Hop Generation on the Music Liturgy of Euro-African Church Denominations” The Black Church and Hip-Hop Culture: Toward Bridging the Generational Divide. ed. Emmett G. Price III, Scarecrow Press. January 2012.
Dr. Shana Mashego, “The Music of the Black Church” The Encyclopedia of African American Music. ed. Emmett G. Price III, Greenwood Press. December 2010.
Shana Thomas Mashego Music From The Soul of Woman: The Influence of The African American Presbyterian And Methodist Church Traditions on The Classical Compositions of Florence Price and Dorothy Rudd Moore, DMA Dissertation, The University of Arizona 2010.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Dr. Shana Mashego, The Origin Story of The African American Musician: From African Origins to Post-George Floyd America. Forthcoming 2026
Dr. Shana Mashego & The Sacred Ensemble, The Hymn Project, A Seven Volume Set of Internationally Celebrated Hymns set for Piano Quintet, String Quartet, & Soprano. Sacred Records, Vols. 4-7 Projected Recording Completion Period 2021-2026