Mr. Shapiro’s music has been characterized by The New York Times as "possessing a rare melodic gift."

Original works include:

• The Love of Don Perlimplin and Belisa in the Garden, an opera based on Federico Garcia Lorca’s play (premiered by the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C.)
• A Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 (commissioned and premiered by the Philharmonic Symphony of Westchester, Jose Ferrer, narrator. Also performed by the Houston Symphony, Sergiu Comissiona, conductor)
• Yiddish Quartet (premiered by the Hawthorne String Quartet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra)
• Eliahu Hanavi variations for solo cello (recorded on NAXOS by BSO Associate Principal cellist Sato Knudsen)
• Frankenstein - The Music Score to the 1931 classic film Frankenstein (premiered at the Film Society of Lincoln Centerâs Jacob Burns Film Center in New York)

Mr. Shapiro holds a Master’s degree in music from The Juilliard School of Music. He also studied conducting with Carl Bamberger at the Mannes School, and with Harold Faberman. Principal composition teachers included Elie Siegmeister, Vincent Persichetti, and Sir Malcolm Arnold.

Mr. Shapiro’s contributions to the literary world include The Jewish 100 and Jewish Pride as well as numerous articles for Discover and This Old House magazines.