Dr. Jim Shepherd is Catawba College’s new director of choral music and assistant professor of music. He will join the faculty at the college in August for the start of the 2012-13 academic year.
Shepherd comes to Catawba from Concord University in Ath-ens, W.Va., where he served during the 2011-12 academic year as assistant professor and director of choral and vocal music. He also served from 2006 until 2011 as associate professor and director of choral and vocal music at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas.
“We are confident that Jim will be able to build upon the strong tradition of choral music that has developed at Catawba, especially over the past five years,” says Dr. David Fish, chair of Catawba’s Department of Music. “Jim brings with him the experience, talent and enthusiasm required to inspire the students.”
Shepherd earned his bachelor of music degree in music education and his master of music in choral conducting from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky. He holds his doctor of musical arts in choral conducting from the University of Texas in Austin.
He is active in the American Choral Directors Association and College Music Society, among others. Shepherd notes that his aim in his new position at Catawba is to “foster artistic, self-sufficient musicians.”
Shepherd said he values “the privilege of education” and plans “to continue inspiring music educators and performers through the choral art.”
He also is active Music Educators National Conference (NafME), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Texas Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, West Virginia Choral Directors Association and the National Collegiate Choral Organization, of which he is an inaugural member.
Fish added, “We also know that important college events, such as the annual Service of Lessons and Carols, will be in good hands.”