Miami University alumna Shelbi Wagner has been making significant strides in the world of music education and performance. Wagner, who holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with honors in Cello Performance from Miami University, studied under the late Steven Shumway. She furthered her studies with doctoral work at the Ohio State University under Mark Rudoff.

Wagner's teaching portfolio is extensive and diverse. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Cello at Sinclair College, imparts her knowledge at McCutcheon Music, and assumes the role of Faculty Cellist at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, during the summer months. With 15 years of teaching experience at the University of Dayton, where she was the Coordinator of the String Area, Wagner has demonstrated a profound commitment to education. Her teaching repertoire includes Low String Pedagogy, Fundamentals of Music, Cello Choir coaching, and mentoring various student ensembles. Moreover, she was a founding member of the Aviatori Piano Trio.

Wagner's performance career is equally impressive. Based in the Dayton area, she has been a regular performer with esteemed institutions such as the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dayton Bach Society. Additionally, she serves as Assistant Principal of the Lima and Springfield Symphonies. Wagner's international performance experience spans across Europe and Mexico, and she has held Assistant Principal Cello positions in orchestras in Adrian, Hilton Head, Beaufort, and Pueblo, among others.

Throughout her career, Wagner has showcased her talent in numerous festivals and competitions. Notably, as an undergraduate, she was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and a two-time first prize winner in the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Competition. She has also enriched her craft through masterclasses with renowned artists such as Janos Starker, Boris Pergamenshikov, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Shelbi Wagner's dedication to both education and performance underscores her multifaceted contributions to the world of music, reflecting the exemplary standards upheld by Miami University alumni.