Dr. Kenny Sheppard is Professor of Music Emeritus at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas where he established a widely respected choral program. Under his leadership, the Southwestern University Chorale performed for state and national music conventions, at the Orchestra of Santa Fe Bach Festival, with the Austin Symphony, the Big Spring Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Temple Symphony, the Austin Civic Orchestra, and the Air Force Band.
In addition to numerous choral clinics and festivals, Sheppard's guest conducting appearances include the Austin Symphony Orchestra, International Festival- Institute at Round Top, New England Symphonic Ensemble, Big Spring Symphony, Austin Civic Orchestra, Austin Youth Orchestra, and numerous choral and orchestral festivals throughout the country. Sheppard made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2004 as a guest conductor for Mid-America Productions. He has conducted since at international concerts in Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany, China, Italy, and France. His music research spans locations in London, England, Scotland, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark.
Sheppard served as Conductor of Chorus Austin from 2001 to 2008, when he performed 70 concerts, including more than 20 major works with chorus and professional orchestra, as well as preparing the chorus for concerts with the Austin Symphony. The Austin Critics Table named two of those shared concerts with the ASO as the outstanding performance of the year: The Mighty Russians (Mussorgsky and Borodin) was awarded the outstanding choral performance of the 2002-03 season; and Shostakovich’s Babi Yar, Symphony No. 13 as the outstanding symphonic concert of 2005-06.
Sheppard continues serving as the conductor of the Festival Chorus for the Georgetown Festival of the Arts, a position he has held since 2005. For this festival he has conducted such works as Handel’s Israel in Egypt, and a concert version of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Haydn’s Creation, Mass in A-flat and Symphony No. 5 by Schubert, Saint Paul by Mendelssohn, Stabat Mater by Dvorak, Paukenmesse by Haydn, Ein Deutsches Requiem by Brahms, Gloria by Poulenc, and La Damoiselle Elue by Debussy.
Sheppard is known for his experience conducting choral works with orchestra, having conducted more than sixty such works. He devoted the first nine years of his career to teaching choral music in public schools in Odessa, Big Spring, and McAllen. He joined the Southwestern University faculty in Georgetown, Texas, in 1974. As Professor of Music at SU, he conducted the University Chorale and the Southwestern Singers, and he taught courses related to conducting and teacher preparation. He also conducted the Southwestern University Orchestra for thirteen years, and performed with the University Orchestra and Chorale at the Southwest Division meeting of the American Choral Directors' Association in 1994.
A devoted teacher, Dr. Sheppard has mentored many students who now hold positions as conductors and teachers in public schools, churches, and universities. He is the Director of the Conductors Institute of Southwestern University, serving conductors at all stages of professional development.
Dr. Sheppard's work with the Georgetown Festival of the Arts continues, and he is available for workshops and consultation.