Stephen Shepherd
Baritone Saxophone
Stephen began learning the saxophone at the age of 12 after starting piano four years earlier. He graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2014 with a Masters in Music in Performance (MMus in Performance) studying Saxophone with Kyle Horch, having previously studied with Dr. Angela Space at the University of Southampton for a BA(Hons) in Music. Following his studies Stephen successfully auditioned to join the Corps of Army Music and, after undertaking further training at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, he was appointed Principal Saxophonist with the Band of the Scots Guards in 2015, and Principal Saxophonist with the Band of the Welsh Guards in 2019. He won the ‘CAMUS 25 Soloist Competition’, having won the Household Division's ‘Musician of the Year’ Competition in 2017.
As a saxophonist Stephen has experience across all genres, most notably performing the UK Premiere of Satoshi Yagisawa’s Baritone Saxophone Concerto Vongole at Cadogan Hall in 2019, the concerto version of Pedro Itturalde's Pequena Czarda at Cadogan Hall in 2017, and Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Two Memorials at the Purcell Rooms as part of “The Rest is Noise” festival. In 2021 he recorded Eric Coates Saxo-Rhapsody for the forthcoming Band of the Welsh Guards CD release.
He regularly features as a soloist with the Band of the Welsh Guards, and with the Army has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, has played live on ITV, BBC 1 (including as a featured soloist in the 2019 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo), and on BBC Radio 3's 'In Tune' with the Household Division Saxophone Quartet. He has also performed at Bestival and the Isle of Wight Festival, and played at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, as well as venues such as The O2, Turner Sims Concert Hall, St. James's Piccadilly, The Forge, Camden, and Symphony Hall Birmingham, and abroad in Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland.
He was also Tenor Saxophonist in the Household Division Saxophone Quartet whose performing highlights include the World Premiere of Adam Gorb's Let Them Play at the World Saxophone Congress in Zagreb in 2018, and Thierry Escaich’s Tango Virtuoso with choreography at Cadogan Hall.
Stephen's orchestral experience includes Principal Saxophonist with the London Military Band as well as performances with Shadwell Opera Company, the Facade Ensemble, and Riot Ensemble.
Stephen has given masterclasses and workshops at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and the University of Southampton.
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