Inspired by great music and innovative artistry, Shira Gilbert offers individualized, creative, and comprehensive public relations campaigns for musicians and music organizations. With over thirteen years’ experience in PR for classical musicians, record labels, opera, jazz, theatre, multi-disciplinary festivals and non-profit organizations in the U.S. and Canada, Shira’s media outreach has landed her clients in the top news outlets, from The New York Times, Time and Vanity Fair, to 60 Minutes, CBS Sunday Morning and The Today Show.
As Publicity Manager for Universal Classics Group in New York (Deutsche Grammophon, Decca and Philips labels), Shira collaborated with many of the world’s most prestigious classical artists – including opera stars Renée Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Florez and Thomas Quasthoff, violinists Anne-Sophie Mutter and Hilary Hahn, pianists Lang Lang and Maurizio Pollini, the Emerson String Quartet, among many others – in the promotion of Grammy-winning and #1 Billboard-charting recordings.
Previously, Shira was Senior Publicist for the music programming at New York’s 92nd Street Y, which featured many renowned recital and chamber music artists, and for FLIP Publicity & Promotions in Toronto, where she executed PR campaigns for a diverse roster including Broadway tours, theatre, opera, new music and summer festivals. In earlier days she worked for Opera Lyra in Ottawa and in Toronto with the Ashkenaz Festival, DW Communications and Summerworks.
After moving to Montreal in 2004, Shira was the U.S. media representative for Warner Classics, promoting recordings from Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, violinist Daniel Hope, Beaux Arts Trio, among many others. Additional clients include cellist Matt Haimovitz, Canadian Brass, violinist Mark Fewer, electric guitarist and composer Tim Brady, conductors John Axelrod and Alexander Mickelthwaite, pianists Christopher O’Riley, Louise Bessette and Lara Downes, Analekta recordings (violinist Angèle Dubeau, Tafelmusik, Gryphon Trio) and Paradizo, the French early music label.
Shira earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto and continued her music studies at McGill. She is delighted to have found a way of working with great music and musicians without having to worry about getting a sore throat. Shira lives in Montreal with her husband and two young children.