Pinned
Sean Shepherd
@seanshep.bsky.social
· Apr 3
My new Quadruple Concerto for the Dallas Symphony with Fabio Luisi and soloists flutist David Buck, oboist Erin Hannigan, clarinetist Greg Raden and bassoonist Ted Soluri is HAPPENING in two weeks!
Image 2 — where it started ...
Image 3 — where it goes! #1stmvmt
Image 2 — where it started ...
Image 3 — where it goes! #1stmvmt
“On A Clear Day”, for cello, choirs, and large orchestra, is out today on Deutsche Grammophon/Avi-Music!
It’s always been hard to categorize: part concerto, part oratorio, part orchestral and choral virtuosity. Part panic, part plea, part prayer.
It’s always been hard to categorize: part concerto, part oratorio, part orchestral and choral virtuosity. Part panic, part plea, part prayer.
August 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
“On A Clear Day”, for cello, choirs, and large orchestra, is out today on Deutsche Grammophon/Avi-Music!
It’s always been hard to categorize: part concerto, part oratorio, part orchestral and choral virtuosity. Part panic, part plea, part prayer.
It’s always been hard to categorize: part concerto, part oratorio, part orchestral and choral virtuosity. Part panic, part plea, part prayer.
In anticipation of TOMORROW’s release of “On a Clear Day” on #DeutscheGrammophon, here are a few rehearsal memories with #JanVogler, #KentNagano, #PhilharmonischesStaatsorcheste Hamburg and the choirs in Hamburg and at #CarnegieHall!
August 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
In anticipation of TOMORROW’s release of “On a Clear Day” on #DeutscheGrammophon, here are a few rehearsal memories with #JanVogler, #KentNagano, #PhilharmonischesStaatsorcheste Hamburg and the choirs in Hamburg and at #CarnegieHall!
What a delicious week at the Thailand International Composition Festival working with and hearing music from composers from many Asian counties, along with a fantastic performance of “Melt” by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Wilson Ng!
August 18, 2025 at 10:18 PM
What a delicious week at the Thailand International Composition Festival working with and hearing music from composers from many Asian counties, along with a fantastic performance of “Melt” by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Wilson Ng!
Something enormous this way comes: my BIG SONG from 2023, "On a Clear Day", is being released on August 22 on Deutsche Grammophon/Avi-Music! Check out the 10th movement, written as a lullaby to my 4-month old daughter, available as a little taste on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming apps!
August 14, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Something enormous this way comes: my BIG SONG from 2023, "On a Clear Day", is being released on August 22 on Deutsche Grammophon/Avi-Music! Check out the 10th movement, written as a lullaby to my 4-month old daughter, available as a little taste on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming apps!
Last weekend in Portland was wonderful! “Latticework” was flying high at Chamber Music Northwest’s “Echoes of Bach” 2025 Summer Festival, with terrific performances in Beaverton and at Reed College.
August 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Last weekend in Portland was wonderful! “Latticework” was flying high at Chamber Music Northwest’s “Echoes of Bach” 2025 Summer Festival, with terrific performances in Beaverton and at Reed College.
Throwback to earlier this month!
This year’s NYO USA Apprentice Composers had fantastic readings of fantastic pieces, thanks to James Ross, José-Luis Novo and the always-stellar and up-for-anything orchestra!
This year’s NYO USA Apprentice Composers had fantastic readings of fantastic pieces, thanks to James Ross, José-Luis Novo and the always-stellar and up-for-anything orchestra!
July 24, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Throwback to earlier this month!
This year’s NYO USA Apprentice Composers had fantastic readings of fantastic pieces, thanks to James Ross, José-Luis Novo and the always-stellar and up-for-anything orchestra!
This year’s NYO USA Apprentice Composers had fantastic readings of fantastic pieces, thanks to James Ross, José-Luis Novo and the always-stellar and up-for-anything orchestra!
Loving the journey—in every sense—that my duo "Latticework" is on! Tuesday at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival was amazing, sharing the program with the mighty Ravel Sonata for Violin and Piano. It’s the kind of piece where I can be humbled, amazed and embraced by what these two can do.
July 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Loving the journey—in every sense—that my duo "Latticework" is on! Tuesday at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival was amazing, sharing the program with the mighty Ravel Sonata for Violin and Piano. It’s the kind of piece where I can be humbled, amazed and embraced by what these two can do.
Always a joy to be with the amazing musicians, teachers, mentors and people who make up the NYO-USA faculty!
July 13, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Always a joy to be with the amazing musicians, teachers, mentors and people who make up the NYO-USA faculty!
Absolutely thrilled to see and share this! The premiere performance in April of my Quadruple Concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, maestro Fabio Luisi and the amazing artists of my woodwind dream team: David Buck, Erin Hannigan, Greg Raden and Ted Soluri, is now viewable and hearable!
Sean Shepherd's Quadruple Concerto and Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony
YouTube video by Dallas Symphony Orchestra
www.youtube.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Absolutely thrilled to see and share this! The premiere performance in April of my Quadruple Concerto with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, maestro Fabio Luisi and the amazing artists of my woodwind dream team: David Buck, Erin Hannigan, Greg Raden and Ted Soluri, is now viewable and hearable!
The premiere of my most ambitious chamber music to date (2 parts, 10 movements, 20+ minutes almost without pause, for 2 people) at Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival was a special one.
June 11, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The premiere of my most ambitious chamber music to date (2 parts, 10 movements, 20+ minutes almost without pause, for 2 people) at Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival was a special one.
I had a truly wonderful time with the ever-sensational Pittsburgh Symphony this past weekend, and I’m grateful to Giancarlo Guerrero for bringing Sprout to life on stage so beautifully.
June 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I had a truly wonderful time with the ever-sensational Pittsburgh Symphony this past weekend, and I’m grateful to Giancarlo Guerrero for bringing Sprout to life on stage so beautifully.
Excited to be back in Pittsburgh this weekend for “Sprout” - a piece I originally wrote with a virtual orchestra (remember the pandemic!?) and animation by David Murakami in mind.
May 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Excited to be back in Pittsburgh this weekend for “Sprout” - a piece I originally wrote with a virtual orchestra (remember the pandemic!?) and animation by David Murakami in mind.
I’m excited to serve as the judge for the 2027 Takemitsu Prize, undoubtedly one of the best opportunities for any young orchestral composer. Finalists come from all over the world to Japan to have their works rehearsed and performed in Tokyo!
May 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I’m excited to serve as the judge for the 2027 Takemitsu Prize, undoubtedly one of the best opportunities for any young orchestral composer. Finalists come from all over the world to Japan to have their works rehearsed and performed in Tokyo!
New piece; new blank page. For the next week, I’m committing to sitting at the keyboard and creating (and working/reworking — KNEADING THE DOUGH on) as many sounds/harmonies/materials as possible, and doing the mental exercise of *not* thinking very hard about how I might use them.
May 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
New piece; new blank page. For the next week, I’m committing to sitting at the keyboard and creating (and working/reworking — KNEADING THE DOUGH on) as many sounds/harmonies/materials as possible, and doing the mental exercise of *not* thinking very hard about how I might use them.
A few last memories for the record books as last week fades oh so quickly.
1. The DREAM TEAM: David Buck, Ted Soluri, Erin Hannigan, Greg Raden, (you’ll notice a distinguished baton-wielding addition to the bunch - Fabio Luisi)
1. The DREAM TEAM: David Buck, Ted Soluri, Erin Hannigan, Greg Raden, (you’ll notice a distinguished baton-wielding addition to the bunch - Fabio Luisi)
April 24, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A few last memories for the record books as last week fades oh so quickly.
1. The DREAM TEAM: David Buck, Ted Soluri, Erin Hannigan, Greg Raden, (you’ll notice a distinguished baton-wielding addition to the bunch - Fabio Luisi)
1. The DREAM TEAM: David Buck, Ted Soluri, Erin Hannigan, Greg Raden, (you’ll notice a distinguished baton-wielding addition to the bunch - Fabio Luisi)
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com made the journey to Dallas for my new piece last week, and their critic David Mermelstein’s review was informed and inspired (and positive!!)
April 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com made the journey to Dallas for my new piece last week, and their critic David Mermelstein’s review was informed and inspired (and positive!!)
1. My view this morning. 2. Their view this morning.
Always a luxury not to be there for a first rehearsal. (Let the musicians - your muses! - hear what you’re up to, and then the work can begin together!)
See you SOON Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Always a luxury not to be there for a first rehearsal. (Let the musicians - your muses! - hear what you’re up to, and then the work can begin together!)
See you SOON Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
April 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
1. My view this morning. 2. Their view this morning.
Always a luxury not to be there for a first rehearsal. (Let the musicians - your muses! - hear what you’re up to, and then the work can begin together!)
See you SOON Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Always a luxury not to be there for a first rehearsal. (Let the musicians - your muses! - hear what you’re up to, and then the work can begin together!)
See you SOON Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
My new Quadruple Concerto for the Dallas Symphony with Fabio Luisi and soloists flutist David Buck, oboist Erin Hannigan, clarinetist Greg Raden and bassoonist Ted Soluri is HAPPENING in two weeks!
Image 2 — where it started ...
Image 3 — where it goes! #1stmvmt
Image 2 — where it started ...
Image 3 — where it goes! #1stmvmt
April 3, 2025 at 7:21 PM
My new Quadruple Concerto for the Dallas Symphony with Fabio Luisi and soloists flutist David Buck, oboist Erin Hannigan, clarinetist Greg Raden and bassoonist Ted Soluri is HAPPENING in two weeks!
Image 2 — where it started ...
Image 3 — where it goes! #1stmvmt
Image 2 — where it started ...
Image 3 — where it goes! #1stmvmt
Double Bar Day™️ yesterday. Love me a good composition hangover.
February 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Double Bar Day™️ yesterday. Love me a good composition hangover.
I know it’s hard to have trust in things these days. But you can rest assured and feel grounded in my ability to write a piece that’s between 2 and 5 minutes longer than what I thought I was writing. Breathe easy on that today and forever. ❤️
February 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I know it’s hard to have trust in things these days. But you can rest assured and feel grounded in my ability to write a piece that’s between 2 and 5 minutes longer than what I thought I was writing. Breathe easy on that today and forever. ❤️
Who knew today would be the day I wrote my first 64th rest?!? #ittybitty #wow 132 here we come
January 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Who knew today would be the day I wrote my first 64th rest?!? #ittybitty #wow 132 here we come
Good morning! It burns!
January 21, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Good morning! It burns!
Everyone: let’s say a little pr*yer to Saint Celicia on my behalf. I need make some genuinely beautiful sounds today. If you prefer to FaceTime the Muses, also acceptable. Send them my best. #helpSeancompose
January 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Everyone: let’s say a little pr*yer to Saint Celicia on my behalf. I need make some genuinely beautiful sounds today. If you prefer to FaceTime the Muses, also acceptable. Send them my best. #helpSeancompose
What a total delight to see The Only Girl In The Orchestra show up on my Netflix Feed! Orin O’Brien is truly a special one, and this is a beautiful little portrait of an ever-reluctant icon, who was always happy to just be in the band. ❤️❤️❤️ #music #nyphil #netflix
www.netflix.com/title/81777798
www.netflix.com/title/81777798
Watch The Only Girl in the Orchestra | Netflix Official Site
This short documentary celebrates trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic.
www.netflix.com
January 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
What a total delight to see The Only Girl In The Orchestra show up on my Netflix Feed! Orin O’Brien is truly a special one, and this is a beautiful little portrait of an ever-reluctant icon, who was always happy to just be in the band. ❤️❤️❤️ #music #nyphil #netflix
www.netflix.com/title/81777798
www.netflix.com/title/81777798