Chris Sheppard
Coordinator of Vocal Music | Associate Professor of Music
Office: AMC 105
Office Phone: 803.321.5176
Email: Chris.Sheppard@newberry.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. | University of Wisconsin (2005)
M.M. | University of Northern Colorado (1997)
B.F.A. | Marshall University (1994)
Bio:
In his role as coordinator of vocal music, Sheppard directs the Newberry College Madrigals and teaches conducting and private voice lessons. Sheppard served as chair of music from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, he guided the department through its recent accreditation review by the National Association of Schools of Music, and helped enact initiatives that have more than doubled the number of music majors. The department broke its own record for incoming music students for three of the last five years under his leadership.
Before coming to Newberry College in 2010, Sheppard taught at Montana State University at Billings, where he served as director of choral activities and received an Outstanding Faculty Award in 2009. Sheppard was chorus master for Rimrock Opera Company in Billings, where he also starred as a performer in several roles: Schaunard in La Bohème, Le Dancaïre in Carmen, and Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro. Additionally, under his direction, the community choir Magic City Singers won the city’s Tuney Award for Best Vocal Group in consecutive years. While in Billings, he was in high demand as a guest conductor and adjudicator, having directed nine festival choruses in just five years.
Previously, Sheppard taught at Bluefield College, where he was honored twice in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and once in Who’s Who in America. During his time there, the music department and choir membership grew and he expanded the scope of the college's choir tours. He was honored to be chosen to direct the college's alumni chorus at Homecoming in 2009.
Sheppard’s summer festival work includes twice working as chorus master and voice instructor at the Maud Powell International Opera Institute in Illinois, and as the choral director for an international choir in the World Scholar-Athlete Games held in Kingston, Rhode Island. He has held positions at several churches, including three Lutheran and one Presbyterian as music director. Sheppard also directed the Madison Chamber Choir while doing his doctoral work in Madison, Wisconsin.
