Neal Shipton earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois in 2007 and his Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois in 2014. Prior to joining the music department at Geneva High School, Mr. Shipton served as Director of Bands at Belvidere North High School. Under Mr. Shipton's direction, Belvidere North students and ensembles performed with distinction at a wide variety of festivals, contests and locations, including ILMEA District VIII Concert and Jazz Festivals, the Vandercook Day of Percussion Festival, Jazz in the Meadows at Rolling Meadows High School, the Statue of Liberty, Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and the Illinois Music Education Conference, and more.

Mr. Shipton joined the Geneva High School Music Department faculty as Band Director in 2015. He conducts the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Percussion Methods and Jazz Band 2 and teaches four levels of Music Theory. Along with co-Director, Pat Frederick, Mr. Shipton also conducts the Geneva High School Marching Band and Pep Bands.

Mr. Shipton served as the Illinois State Chair for the Tri-M Music Honor Society from 2014-2020. When he is not teaching, Mr. Shipton loves reading, running, playing banjo and spending time with his wife, Kelsey and their sons, George and Henry.