When the pandemic shutdown hit in the spring of 2020, it put Joshua Shepherd (D.M.A. ’11), like almost every other musician out of work. A versatile musician, he had played with everybody from Aretha Franklin to the “Phantom of the Opera” Broadway pit orchestra in the years since earning a Doctor of Musical Arts in viola performance and conducting from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in 2011. But it all dried up instantly.
At loose ends in Nashville, Shepherd formed a new music ensemble called the Nashville Reading Orchestra. Comprised of college students, faculty and community members alongside professional musicians, the group would meet in socially distanced settings to read through repertoire. That led to public performances under a new name, The People’s Orchestra of Nashville, and an impressive new chapter of Shepherd’s career – one that illustrates the resilience, original thinking, and ability to marshal multiple skills that are a hallmark of the Frost method.
After 10 performances over the past few years, The People’s Orchestra has earned accolades including national finalist for the American Prize in Orchestral Performance. Shepherd himself earned individual honors as national finalist for the community orchestra division of the American Prize in Conducting.
“The People’s Orchestra is positioned to be people-focused, with performances for people who do not usually attend orchestral concerts,” Shepherd says. “We’ve tried to pick music and present at places that are community-friendly.”
Shepherd has always been a pragmatic sort, going back to when he changed his primary instrument from violin to viola while an undergraduate at Florida Atlantic University. There was a shortage of viola players, and he figured it would make him more marketable after graduation.
“As a tall person, I always felt physically cramped on violin,” he says. “As soon as I played viola, it just felt meant to be.”
With The People’s Orchestra of Nashville on the rise, Shepherd’s next goal is to get the ensemble set up as a 501(c)(3). Non-profit status will allow him to apply for grants to grow the orchestra.
“It’s been out of my pocket to this point, with some donations, and that can’t go on forever,” he says. “Becoming a legit non-profit will allow us to become more serious, take it to the next level.”
- By David Menconi
