About Kelly

Kelly Shepherd is a dedicated professional musician and teacher with over 25 years in music. He has performed and recorded with some of the very best names in music and he is an equally devoted teacher. As a child, Kelly was exposed to all styles of music and performance from his father who was a musician. Kelly started his formal musical studies at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Md at the age of 10. At age 13, Kelly auditioned for and was accepted into The Baltimore School for the Performing Arts. While studying classical saxophone with Dr. Chris Ford at BSA, he would frequently visit his father, a singer, in New York City. In New York, he was around and learned from the best musicians in the world with whom his father was working. This way, Kelly was taught both formally and informally. He also entered the traditional rites of passage essential to musicians. By spending time with and sitting in with older great musicians, the spirit of the music was passed on to Kelly. He started learning from and being mentored outside of school settings by saxophone masters Junior Cook and Gary Bartz. During high school Kelly met a friend and teacher for life in Jamal Wilson.  Mr. Wilson mentored and taught Kelly about  many things. He introduced Kelly to a technique for tone production aimed at playing with a healing sound. "Although I didn't consciously know how to articulate it at the time, I was longing for this approach to music. I was really into John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix. Mr. Wilson encouraged the importance of being a good person and how it is the foundation to success. He tied all of that into the technique of playing.. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for more... A great classical teacher Dr. Chris Ford, two world renowned saxophone masters Junior Cook and Gary Bartz, an incredible singer in my dad, and a master teacher in Mr. Wilson. All during my formative years, I had the education that no amount of money could buy."

As a performer, Kelly realized his dreams and went on to share the stage with some of the greatest musicians in the world. He performed and recorded with luminaries such as Curtis Fuller, Richard Wyands, Leroy Williams, Virgil Jones, Grady Tate, Charles Davis and many more. Kelly performed at major festivals in the U.S and abroad and has conducted workshops and clinics at universities, colleges, grade schools, and arts & community centers. Kelly taught at Grovepark Elementary Baltimore MD, and Schecter School in Sharon MA.

In 2001 and 2010, Kelly's sons Justyn and Kaleo were born and Kelly devoted more time to teaching so that he could watch his family grow. In 2013, Kelly's Music & More was established in Littleton MA. Having been taught and mentored by saxophone legends Junior Cook, Gary Bartz, as well as his father, Kelly acquired a vast wealth of essential musical knowledge which can not be found in textbooks. Mr. Wilson started sharing with Kelly how to communicate with and nurture students.  "I am an avid student and devoted teacher always wanting to develop and share all the important information I've been fortunate enough to receive. After my son Justyn was born, I immersed myself in teaching and found myself specializing in teaching professional and intermediate musicians the techniques for personal sound development. I realized that my younger students were able to play their own personal sound quite naturally right away. I was quickly won over by my younger students and I realized the importance of children having a very good early experience in music. I saw each young pupil as a musician with unrealized potential. It was a perfect fit. Together, my students, and my teacher's have helped shaped me, my teaching method. I'm always trying to improve as a teacher, father, and husband. My family is the most important part of my life. Everything is connected."

"Based on a very personal approach tailored for every student, the cornerstones of my teaching are, positive encouragement, patience, listening, nurturing, hard work, being instinctive and most importantly, enjoying the process of growing in music. One important factor in every lesson is each student getting a chance to hear themselves sounding good in the music.  My students who enter into competitions get my full support and they often win top awards and honors but I attribute that to not forcing them and my belief in following their joy for music and the lessons. I want each student to look forward to each lesson, knowing that they will be one step closer after their work is done. That being said, we want to make some good music in every lesson."

Today, Kelly still performs in several groups (mostly his own group Kelly Shepherd and NoMad Stories). He organizes several recitals for his students annually. He also does workshops with professionals for students as well as doing workshops with his students for other students. He leads several youth ensembles. Kelly has recorded several of his own recordings as well as having recorded on other musicians CDs. 

Kelly's Ensembles:

Kelly Shepherd & NoMad Stories

Kelly's Music:

The Beauty of Simplicity (iTunes)

The Beauty of Simplicity (Amazon)