Shannon Jacob is a Sri Lankan-born composer, music director, performer, and educator. Her primary education was completed at Bishop鈥檚 College, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA; where she graduated with a BM in Contemporary Writing and Production, 15鈥�. While in Sri Lanka, her classical music education was primarily overseen by Mrs. Barbara Cooray, and her contemporary music education by Ruwani Seimon and Vinodh Senadheera. Her service to the church from a very young age inspired her to explore the possibility of using music for social change. In 2011, Shannon founded Music.Inc; a show choir in Sri Lanka that created awareness through the performing arts and fulfilled a wish list for terminally ill and underprivileged children. Additionally, she holds a Higher National Diploma in Interior Design from the Academy of Design Sri Lanka, 09鈥�, and worked as an interior designer under the tutelage of renowned Sri Lankan architects Dipika Dharmadasa and Murad Ismail.
Shannon currently holds various roles as an educator and music director in the United States. She works full time at Berklee as the Assistant Director of Faculty Development where she engages in dialogue surrounding justice through the performing arts, and provides faculty with resources for professional development and classroom management. As an educator at Boston College she teaches courses in Music and Social Justice, Women in Blues, Gospel Music Workshop through African and African Diaspora Studies, directs the Voices of Imani Gospel Choir and collaborates with Theater for vocal direction and masterclasses. Her dedication to students was recognized by the Student-Athlete Academic Services Outstanding Faculty Award, 22鈥�, which honors a member of the faculty who is distinguished by a demonstrated commitment to teaching and fostering the intellectual and personal growth of Boston College students.听Shannon was also honored by Bishop鈥檚 College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2025, by being included in the 150th-anniversary limited edition coffee table book The Mystery, the Memory, the Magic as a high-achieving alumna and asked to present her music during the celebrations.听
Her compositions and arrangements range from classical, jazz, gospel and contemporary for the likes of Color Violeta, The Southeast Asian Choir Games, The Gustav Mahler Symphony Orchestra, Boston College Symphony Orchestra, University Chorale at Boston College and various theatrical productions and short films. She was the guest clinician and conductor at the Gospel Festival hosted by Princeton High School, NJ, in February, 2024, for a week-long residency where she worked with multiple elementary, middle and high schools. Her collaborations with the University Chorale at Boston College led to a world premier and European tour of her music. Shannon will be featured in the 150th anniversary edition coffee table book as a high achiever in the field of music as an alumnus of Bishop鈥檚 College, Colombo, Sri Lanka that will be released in January 2025. As a modern composer and producer who understands the value of tradition merging with new technology, she was chosen to shape the music for a national monument, The Lotus Tower in Sri Lanka; where her music was placed throughout the tower as a part of a continuing immersive experience for visitors.
Shannon resides in Boston, MA, with her husband Drew Dorman who is a drummer and patient support specialist by profession. She believes that music education can be used to find a compassionate and empathetic outlook towards diversity and true acceptance of one another as citizens of the world. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming, and staying active.听
