DMA - University of Wisconsin
MM - University of Northern Colorado
BFA - Marshall University

Now in his fourth year at MSUB, Dr. Sheppard has led the Chamber Singers on tours each spring and has been invited to direct several festival choruses in 2008-2009: Glendive All-District chorus, Montana Treble Festival Choir in Miles City, and a combined festival chorus of the Laurel and Skyview High School choirs. In addition, he will return as director for Montana Youth Sings, held for outstanding 7th-8th grade singers in eastern Montana in March 2009 at MSUB. The Chamber Singers will also perform this spring as part of the chorus in Bizet’s Carmen, produced by the Rimrock Opera in March 2009.

Dr. Sheppard made his debut with the Rimrock Opera as Antonio in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Fall 2008. He will perform the role of Le Danicaire this spring in Carmen. Sheppard also serves as chorusmaster for Rimrock Opera, a position he has held since January 2008. Besides his work with the opera, he is Music Director at First English Lutheran Church in Billings, and directs the Magic City Singers.

Before coming to MSUB, Sheppard was the Director of Choral Activities at Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia, and has been invited to return for Homecoming 2009 to direct an alumni choir as part of the festivities. During his four-year tenure at Bluefield, participation in the choirs tripled and the number of voice majors doubled. He led the Chamber Choir on tours to Florida, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia, as well as throughout Virginia. Sheppard has also taught at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, and maintains a private voice studio.

At the Maud Powell Music Festival in LaSalle, IL, in both summer 2006 and 2007, Dr. Sheppard taught voice and directed the festival chorus. He also participated in its International Opera Institute as chorusmaster for Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel, and Andezej Hanzelewicz’s Maud Powel: Queen of Violinists. He has been invited to participate again in June 2009.

A proficient baritone soloist, Dr. Sheppard is active both on the stage and in recital. In addition to solo recitals, he has sung several operatic roles and performed often as a soloist in oratorios and other large-scale choral works. His primary voice instructors include Paul Balshaw, Ilona Kombrink, Thomas Poole, and Jeffrey Price.

After receiving the only available graduate choral assistantship at the University of Wisconsin in 2002, Sheppard studied with Beverly Taylor and conducted the University Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Master Singers, and Choral Union. While in Madison, Sheppard also directed the acclaimed Madison Chamber Choir.

In addition to a DMA from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Sheppard also holds an MM in choral conducting from the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied with Howard Skinner and Galen Darrough; and a BFA in vocal performance from Marshall University, where he worked under choral director David Castleberry.

Dr. Sheppard was Choir Director for the 2001 World Scholar-Athlete Games in Kingston, Rhode Island, in which over two thousand 15-19 year-olds from over 150 countries participated. He has also directed festival choruses in Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming; and is a frequently requested adjudicator for both solo and choral competitions

Dr. Sheppard was Choir Director for the 2001 World Scholar-Athlete Games in Kingston, Rhode Island, in which over two thousand 15-19 year-olds from over 150 countries participated. He has also directed festival choruses in Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming; and is a frequently requested adjudicator for both solo and choral competitions.

Awards:

“Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” 2002-2003
“Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” 2004-2005
“Who’s Who in America” 2006

Major voice instructors:

Ilona Kombrink
Jeffrey Price
Paul Balshaw