Carmen Velma Shepperd

Carmen Velma Shepperd (October 30, 1910 – December 6, 1997) was an American singer, pianist, and educator, born in Jamaica.

Carmen Velma Shepperd
An African-American teenaged girl, with a white bow in her hair. She is regarding the camera and not smiling
Carmen Velma Shepperd as a teenager, from a 1925 newspaper
BornOctober 30, 1910
Kingston, Jamaica
DiedDecember 6, 1997 (aged 87)
Occupation(s)Singer, educator

Early life and education

Carmen Velma Shepperd was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the daughter of David N. Shepperd and Theresa Ann Rodriquez Shepperd.[1][2] She moved to the United States with her parents, and grew up in New York City. Her mother was a dressmaker.[3]

As a young singer, Shepperd earned medals from the New York Music Education League.[4][5] She graduated from Wadleigh High School[6] and earned two diplomas from the Juilliard School in 1934.[7][8] At Juilliard she studied voice with Lucia Dunham.[6][9] She earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Columbia University. She pursued further studies in France, in the class of 1947 at the Fontainebleau School of Music.[10]

Career

Shepperd, a pianist and mezzo soprano singer, gave several recitals at New York's Town Hall, Carnegie Hall, and other venues.[11] She sang works by Black composer Harry Burleigh as part of "The Three Nightingales", with her Juilliard classmates Ruby Elzy and Anne Brown.[12][13] She sang on radio and in the trio as a young woman.[14]

In 1930,[15] Shepperd founded the Carmen Shepperd School of Music.[16] Her students gave annual recitals at Town Hall[1] and Aeolian Hall.[17] Her school was awarded a service medal in 1931 by the New York Music Week Association, at a Carnegie Hall event,[2] and continued into the 1950s and 1960s.[18][19][20] Among her music students was bassist Lucille Dixon Robertson.[21][22]

Shepperd was an active member of the New York chapters of the National Council of Negro Women,[23][24] Delta Sigma Theta, the American Association of University Women,[25] the National Association of Negro Musicians,[26] the American Caribbean Scholarship Fund,[27] and several alumni associations.[10] In 1980, she accompanied Butterfly McQueen in a performance in Brooklyn.[28]

References
  1. Robertson, Edythe (1941-05-10). "Carmen Shepperd's Pupils in Town Hall Recital Last Sunday". The New York Age. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. White, Lucien H. (1931-06-20). "Race Musicians Win in Music Week Association Annual Competitions". The New York Age. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Mrs. Theresa Shepperd Popular Dressmaker Opens 145th St. Shop". The New York Age. 1927-03-12. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Miss Carmen V. Shepperd is Given Signet Ring for Musical Triump". The New York Age. 1925-07-03. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Carmen Velma Shepperd Wins New Vocal Honors". The New York Age. 1926-06-05. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Miss Sheppard, Contralto, to Sing April 20". The Chicago Defender. April 15, 1933. p. 17 – via ProQuest.
  7. "Music". Opportunity. 12: 220–221. July 1934.
  8. "Gets Two Diplomas". The Chicago Defender. July 16, 1934. p. 6 – via ProQuest.
  9. "Carmen Shepperd Completes Post-Graduate Course". The New York Age. 1934-06-09. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Carmen Shepperd Tops as Educator, Musician". The New York Age. 1956-06-16. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Holland, Bernard (1984-10-13). "A Nostalgic Day for Juilliard Alumni". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  12. Snyder, Jean E. (2016-03-01). Harry T. Burleigh: From the Spiritual to the Harlem Renaissance. University of Illinois Press. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-252-09810-9.
  13. Weaver, David E. (2009-11-12). Black Diva of the Thirties: The Life of Ruby Elzy. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-62846-753-6.
  14. White, Lucien H. (1932-06-18). "Carmen Velma Shepperd Graduates in Singing from Damrosch Institute". The New York Age. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Carmen V. Shepperd's Pupils in 1st Recital". The New York Age. 1931-01-17. p. 7. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Carmen Shepperd's Pupils Get Awards". The New York Age. 1942-01-03. p. 10. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Bearden, Bessye (January 5, 1935). "New York Society". The Chicago Defender. p. 6 – via ProQuest.
  18. "Carmen Shepperd's Pupils Get Enthusiastic Ovation". The New York Age. 1954-06-05. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Student Recital Well Received". The New York Age. 1956-06-09. p. 17. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. Holt, Nora D. (July 3, 1965). "The Sound of Music". The New Pittsburgh Courier. p. 5 – via ProQuest.
  21. Southern, Eileen. "Lucille Dixon". RILM Music Encyclopedias. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  22. "Carment Shepperd's 7 Pupils Presented in Xmas Recital". The New York Age. 1941-01-04. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Council Women Head for European Tour and Africa". The Pittsburgh Courier. 1960-08-06. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "N. Y. Metropolitan Club Elects Officers". The New York Age. 1945-04-28. p. 4. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. Cromer, Lucille (1954-11-20). "Of Men and Maids". The New York Age. p. 14. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Musicians' Party". Daily News. 1961-10-29. p. 330. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. "Miss Watson, Mrs. Marr to be Honored". Baltimore Afro American. April 15, 1969. p. 8. Retrieved February 27, 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  28. "Jimmy Captures a Butterfly". Daily News. 1980-11-04. p. 152. Retrieved 2021-02-27 – via Newspapers.com.
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