Artistic Director
E-mail: matthew@te-deum.org
Dr. Matthew Christopher Shepard has forged a unique and dynamic career that spans concert halls, academic institutions, and faith communities. As a professional conductor of both orchestras and choirs, he has become a sought-after musical leader, known for his intellectual curiosity, fearless programming, and magnetic leadership. His career also includes guest conducting and lecturing in musicology and church music in both collegiate and secondary school settings, as well as leading worship services in Christian and Jewish communities.
Dr. Shepard is the founder and conductor of Te Deum, recognized as one of the premier choral ensembles in the Midwest. He is a passionate advocate for new choral music, having premiered dozens of pieces by both emerging and established composers. His expertise in early music has garnered national attention, and his work has been featured twice in Early Music America. He frequently presents lectures on historical chant performance, music history, and Renaissance performance practice. With Te Deum, he has delivered period performances of monumental Baroque works, including Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, and Bach’s B-Minor Mass.
As an orchestral conductor, Dr. Shepard currently serves as the Interim Director of Orchestras at Illinois State University and has led notable ensembles such as The Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, and the Kansas City Baroque. He has previously served as orchestra director at Benedictine College and conductor of the University of Illinois Philharmonia Orchestra.
Dr. Shepard’s musical journey began in woodwinds and voice. He holds an undergraduate degree from William Jewell College, two master’s degrees in both choral and orchestral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, and a doctorate from the University of Illinois, where he held teaching assistantships for both choral and orchestral ensembles. His additional conducting studies include fellowships at the Conductors Institute at Bard College Conservatory under Maestro Leon Botstein and the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Institute.
