Background
Walter Roy Shepherd was born in Geelong in 1907. His early interest was in medicine, but he had an exceptional soprano voice and showed great pianistic talent, so he acceded to his mother"s wishes and studied music
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Roy Shepherd
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Royal College of Music.
Career
He joined the choir of Street Paul"s Cathedral, Melbourne, where the director, Doctor A. East. Floyd mentored him and encouraged him to continue his studies overseas. He remained in London for four years, then had two years of study under Alfred Cortot and Blanche Bascourret de Gueraldi at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He mingled with the expatriate Australian musical community in Paris, including often performing at Dame Nellie Melba"s soirees.
After his father"s death in 1934, he returned to Australia to perform and teach at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium, later becoming Reader of Music.
In 1936 Shepherd was appointed Director of Music at Geelong College. In 1951 he was invited back to the École Normale to teach advanced students, being probably the first Australian pianist to be so honoured.
His students at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium included: George Logie-Smith, Bruce Hungerford, Keith Humble, Ian Munro, Helen Gifford, Alan Kogosowski, James Helme Sutcliffe, Warren Thomson, Lawrence Whiffin, Nehama Patkin, Antony Gray, Tony Fenelon, Michael Bertram, Victor Sangiorgio and others In 1963 he was required to retire from the university, but was immediately hired by the Victorian College of the Arts.
He also worked at Scotch College.
Roy Shepherd edited Debussy"s Preludes, Liszt"s Consolations and some other scores.
