Roy Shepherd (pianist)

Roy Shepherd MBE (1907 – 20 June 1986) was an Australian pianist who is most renowned as a piano teacher at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium.

Walter Roy Shepherd was born in Geelong in 1907.[1][2] His early interest was in medicine, but he had an exceptional soprano voice and showed great pianistic talent, so he acceded to his mother's wishes and studied music. He joined the choir of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, where the director, Dr. A. E. Floyd mentored him and encouraged him to continue his studies overseas.[1]

In 1925 he won the (Sir William) Clarke Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London (other Clarke Scholars included Sir Bernard Heinze and Sir William McKie).[3] He remained in London for four years, then had two years of study under Alfred Cortot[4][5] and Blanche Bascourret de Gueraldi at the École Normale de Musique de Paris.[6] He mingled with the expatriate Australian musical community in Paris, including often performing at Dame Nellie Melba's soirees.[1] After his father's death in 1934, he returned to Australia to perform and teach at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium, later becoming Reader of Music.

In 1936 Shepherd was appointed Director of Music at Geelong College. His tenure was cut short by illness, and this presented the opportunity for George Logie-Smith, at that time a 22-year-old who had no academic qualifications or teacher training, to be appointed Director in Shepherd's place in 1937, on Shepherd's strong recommendation.[4][7]

In 1951 he was invited back to the École Normale to teach advanced students, being probably the first Australian pianist to be so honoured.[8]

His students at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium included: George Logie-Smith,[4] Bruce Hungerford,[9] Keith Humble,[6][10][11][12] Ian Munro,[13] Helen Gifford,[14] Alan Kogosowski, James Helme Sutcliffe, Warren Thomson, Lawrence Whiffin,[15][16] Nehama Patkin,[17] Antony Gray,[18] Tony Fenelon,[19] Michael Bertram,[20][21] Victor Sangiorgio and others.

In 1963 he was required to retire from the university, but was immediately hired by the Victorian College of the Arts. He also worked at Scotch College.[1]

Roy Shepherd edited Debussy's Preludes,[22] Liszt's Consolations[23] and some other scores.

Personal life

In 1952 in Paris he met the French soprano Denise Schubenel (8 December 1927–30 May 2014),[24] whom he married in Melbourne on 20 June 1954.[1] They had two sons and four grandchildren. Denise Shepherd went on to become a renowned French language coach who worked for many years with the Victorian State Opera and Opera Australia.

In the New Year's Honours of 1978 Roy Shepherd was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[25][26]

In later life he suffered from a painful neurological condition of the legs, and was effectively house-bound from the early 1980s. He died on his wedding anniversary, 20 June 1986, after returning home from an anniversary dinner with his wife.[1]

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References
  1. David Flowers, Family, Friends and Music: The Memoirs of Denise Shepherd. Retrieved 14 January 2015
  2. Stephen Pleskun. A Chronological History of Australian Composers and Their Compositions, Volume 1. Retrieved 8 June 2014
  3. The Age, 17 April 1931
  4. Scotch College
  5. notesfromapianist
  6. Graham Hair, Keith Humble's Modernism: From Homogenous Motivic-thematic Organicism to Heterogenous Gestural Constructivism
  7. Illustrated Heritage Guide to the Geelong College. Retrieved 8 June 2014
  8. The Argus, 12 May 1951
  9. Udini
  10. Larry Sitsky, Australian Piano Music Of The Twentieth Century
  11. Don M Randel, The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music
  12. Geelong College
  13. Australian National Piano Award 2012
  14. Australian Music Centre: Helen Gifford
  15. Australian Music Centre: Lawrence Whiffin
  16. Limelight
  17. Nehama Patkin
  18. Bach Cantatas
  19. Roland Atelier
  20. Australian Music Centre: Michael Bertram
  21. Astra Music
  22. Debussy Preludes
  23. Liszt Consolations
  24. Maria Vandamme, "Coach driven to share her passion for her native language and the music it inspired". Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015
  25. It's an Honour. Retrieved 8 June 2014
  26. Victoria Government Gazette, 11 January 1978, p. 96. Retrieved 8 June 2014
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