David Shepard is well known in the Bay Area as a pianist, cellist, organist, composer, and conductor. As a pianist, he is active as a recitalist working mainly with vocalists and instrumentalists. As a composer, David has many compositions to his credit and is a recipient of a Marin Arts Council grant for his setting of Sylvia Plath’s poems for choir and small ensemble. He recently completed a score for the award-winning movie Shelf Life (produced by 5 Corner Films and Arthur’s Realm productions of Los Angeles). As an arranger, he created and performed music for several dance films including America Dances! 1897-1948, produced by Dancetime Publications.
A student of Denis De Coteau, he is active as musical director and conductor; David has twice been nominated Best Musical Director by the Bay Area Critics Circle. A few of the productions that he has directed are The History of the American Film, Oh Coward!, and Tintypes. David was musical director/conductor for the acclaimed production of Pal Joey starring Kathryn Crosby at the Marin Theater Company, directed by Albert Takazauckas. He recently produced a recital devoted to the vocal and instrumental music of Francis Poulenc at St. Hilary Church of Tiburon. Formerly with the San Francisco Ballet Association, Mr. Shepard is Music Director of the Marin Ballet as well as Director of Music Ministries here at Marin Lutheran Church.