Westminster College rising senior Shannon Witkouski is one of just six students selected for the College’s prestigious Summer Research Fellowship—now in its ninth consecutive year. A double major in music education and performance from Beaver, Pa., Witkouski is exploring the intersection of technology and the arts in her research project, “AI-Assisted Composition for Bands and Orchestra: Enhancing or Replacing Creativity?” under the mentorship of Dr. Dan Perttu, professor of music. 

An accomplished percussionist, Witkouski stays active beyond campus as a freelance performer across the region and serves as a clinician and instructor for the drumline and front ensemble at Blackhawk High School. She was also chosen as one of only 33 students worldwide to serve on the Percussive Arts Society’s University Student Committee, where she holds the role of social media and marketing chair. In addition, she is a proud member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

“This project has pushed me to think deeply about what creativity really means in the digital age. It has made me more confident about using new technology but also more determined to defend the human qualities that make music powerful and unique,” said Witkouski. 

How would you describe your project? 
My project examines the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in composing music for bands and orchestras. Specifically, I am investigating whether AI can serve as a creative partner that expands a composer’s ideas or whether it risks replacing the human ingenuity that lies at the heart of music-making.  

What are some ways you are conducting your research? 
I am researching existing publications on the topic and will soon be surveying composers and educators. My goal is to better understand how these tools influence artistic choices and to develop practical recommendations for incorporating AI into music education while preserving the essential human element. 

What is your main interest in this topic? 
As a percussionist and music educator, I have always been interested in how technology intersects with creativity. When I first encountered AI-generated music, I was both fascinated and unsettled. Could a machine really craft a piece that resonates emotionally with performers and audiences alike?  

What is your goal in researching AI through the fellowship program? 
I want to understand not only what AI is capable of musically but also how it might reshape the composer’s role in the creative process. The fellowship offered the perfect opportunity to explore this timely and emerging, complex issue. 

What have you learned from the research? 
One key insight is that AI is neither a magical solution nor an automatic threat, rather it is a tool that can inspire new ideas if used thoughtfully. Many AI systems excel at generating musical fragments quickly but they often lack the structural coherence and expressive detail that skilled human composers provide. I also found that composers are divided in their opinions. Some view AI as a welcome source of inspiration, while others fear it might erode originality and blur lines of authorship. Additionally, current copyright laws struggle to address AI-created works, raising important ethical and legal questions about ownership and artistic credit. 

Why do you think AI-assisted composition deserves attention in the music world? 
AI is transforming creative industries across the board, and music is no exception. For composers, performers, educators, and even listeners, this technology poses both opportunities and challenges. It forces us to ask: How can we harness AI to expand musical possibilities without losing the human voice at the core of our art? How should music students be trained to use these tools responsibly? And how do we protect intellectual property when machines can generate music based on massive libraries of existing works? By engaging with these questions now, the music community can shape a future where AI enhances rather than diminishes our creative potential. 

“Shannon is working on an important topic that has emerged–with jarring rapidity–in our field. I am very happy that Shannon is tackling this. She is an ideal student to take on this kind of challenge. While advising her, I personally have been able to reflect on AI’s interactions with music composition and talking with Shannon has helped me refine my own thoughts on this,” said Perttu.  

Sponsored by the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research, Summer Research Fellowships at Westminster College allow students to conduct hands-on research and creative projects under the guidance of our experienced faculty mentors. 

To learn more about Westminster’s School of Music, visit westminster.edu/music.

More Stories