Nina Shuman

Nina was my neighbor and fellow walker. Our walking route was the same, so our paths crossed frequently. Often we would stop and converse about everything from music (I'm a Cinnabar subscriber) to which of the local dogs was loose requiring extra vigilance. I will miss her. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

I had a lovely dream that Nina joined me for a production of The Magic Flute. She said she needed to remind me how it must be done. I woke up energized and blessedly inspired to move forward, a feeling I had certainly lost in the past month, losing my dear companion in opera. Of course, if she says it must be done, I must comply.

Words cannot express our deep sense of loss for our cousin Nina. As full a life as Nina led, to lose her fight against cancer at such an early age is too tragic for us to comprehend. As talented as Nina was as a musician, conductor, scholar, and director, no one was a greater fighter and braver than Nina.
We last saw Nina at a family dinner in the East Village of NYC some ten months ago. We had not seen her for some months and were well aware that there was a strong possibility we would...

So sad am I, to hear of Nina's passing. She indeed was a darling, a musician, scholar, director, teacher, friend, true of heart, and she was so kind to me. I was in the Mayflower Chorus in her all too short tenure as our director. We remained friends, and I was glad to help her move her treasured books from a storage unit in Petaluma, to her new home on what I recall as a farm with apartments.

While I was moving the aforementioned books, she proudly showed me what I recall...

I was heartbroken to hear this news. Nina was the person I most respected among all the fine artists of Sonoma County. I attended her ambitious peformances for over 15 years, and I was proud to support them as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. She is irreplaceable.

Dana Gioia, Washington, D.C./Sonoma County, CA

I was heartbroken to hear the news. Nina was the person I most respected among the many fine artists of Sonoma County. I attended her ambitious productions for over 15 years, and I was proud to support them when I was Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. She is
irreplaceable.

Dana Gioia, Washington, D.C./Sonoma County, CA

Nina was my second cousin, and even though we only got to know each other in the past 15 years or so, I feel like I've known her forever. Her charm, sweetness and humor were such a treat to look forward to during her visits to NYC. I will miss her so much, and when I'm done crying I will smile whenever I think of her.

Even with all that she had on her plate, Nina has been the Music Director for St. Sebastian's Catholic Church in Sebastopol since 2004. She brought with her the most amazingly talented cantors and provided her own excellent skills at the piano every weekend without fail. We will miss her beautiful music, and most of all her always-smiling face.

Nina was a wonderful colleague and addition to the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop staff. She was loved by our participants and staff. She will be missed.
Dwight Coleman, General Director