Dr. Chris Sheppard, Chorus Master

Director of Choral and Vocal Activities is in his third year at Montana State University Billings. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin, University of Northern Colorado, and Marshall University. Before coming to Billings, he taught at Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia, and Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado. Besides directing the choirs at MSU-B, he also teaches private voice, choral conducting, and vocal pedagogy. He recently began conducting the Magic City Singers and will serve as Chorus Master in Rimrock Opera’s spring production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore. Sheppard has also been honored twice in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.”

For the past two summers, Sheppard served as chorus master and voice instructor at the Maud Powell International Opera Institute in Illinois, and will return in that capacity again this summer. In 2001, Sheppard was the choral director for the World Scholar-Athlete Games, which involved over 2,000 participants ages 15-19, from 152 countries and all fifty states. He has directed All-County/All-District Festivals in three states and, while teaching at Bluefield College, led choir tours from Ohio to Florida.

A proficient baritone, Sheppard appeared in Northwest College’s 2006 performances of Handel’s Messiah, and has appeared in many theatrical productions, including opera, musicals, and plays.

Besides his work with universities and community ensembles, Sheppard has served several churches as a music administrator and choir director. He recently began working as Music Director at First English Lutheran Church in Billings.