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Carmen Velma Shepperd

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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

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

Early life and education

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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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