Associate ProfessorPatrick Shepherd

As an artist much of my activity revolves around the production of creative works (musical compositions) and the research underpinning these works. My pedagogic interests lie in skill acquisition for musical composition and conducting, and how synaesthesia affects the work of creative people and young people's learning experiences. I am an Honorary Antarctic Arts Fellow and research works by creative artists who have been to the Ice and how it affects their work practices. This resulted in the publication of the book Artists in Antarctica.
I particularly enjoy working with young composers and conductors and sharing these observations when working with pre-service teachers in the School of Teacher Education in the Faculty of Education.
I am very active in the community as a composer, conductor and adjudicator, and am president of the Specialist Music Programme, a seamless, co-ordinated programme from primary to tertiary levels which has given hundreds of talented young musicians the opportunity for to achieve their potential through a dedicated programme of high-level musical activities.