BBC Music Magazine, in 1997, said of Shapiro, "At 25, he's had performances at Carnegie Hall and on MTV - part of the new group of composers who can work in both places." Shapiro received his B.A. in music from Brown University and his Masters from the famed Julliard School of Music. His concert works have been performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York and by the L.A. Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, The Milwaukee Symphony, the NY Chamber Orchestra, and the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra.