Composer

Biography

Patrick Shepherd has called New Zealand home since moving here in 1991. He is passionate about new music, music education, technology and creativity. His own musical compositions have been performed and broadcast throughout New Zealand and he has had works performed in the UK, USA, South Korea, Germany, China, Russia and Australia. He is a staunch advocate of New Zealand music and represents the South Island on the national committee of the Composers’ Association of New Zealand (CANZ). Patrick has also been the recipient of the CANZ Trust Fund Award for excellence and potential in composition.

Patrick holds degrees from the universities of Canterbury (DMus), London (MMus) and Manchester (BMus(Hons)) as well as a Fellowship and Licentiate in Composition from Trinity, London. He is active as a composer, teacher, conductor, adjudicator and examiner as well as being a concert and CD reviewer for The Press and Opera News.

Patrick’s recent performing activities have been mainly in the field of conducting, having conducted the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Youth Orchestra and Garden City Symphony Orchestra. He currently conducts the Camerata Strings and the orchestra for the Christchurch Primary Schools Music Festival.

Patrick is also an Honorary Antarctic Arts Fellow, having travelled to Antarctica early in 2004, and much of his current work i related to that trip. His Antarctic-inspired orchestral work, cryosphere, was selected as a finalist in the 2006 Lilburn Prize.