Richard’s Legacy
The Richard Shephard Music Foundation was set up in 2021 in memory of Dr Richard Shephard.
Richard was a talented musician and educator and was passionate about the power of music to improve children's life prospects. As a child, Richard began his musical career as a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral. In 1967 he went up to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, as a choral scholar and read music under David Willcocks. After graduating he went to Salisbury Cathedral as an alto lay clerk and taught at several Salisbury schools.
In 1985, Richard was appointed Headmaster of the Minster School in York and from then on York and York Minster became the focus of his life. When Richard arrived, the school had only 52 boy pupils. In 1987, the school began to admit girls, and in 1997 York Minster started a girls’ choir – only the second Cathedral in the country to do so. Richard revolutionised Minster School pupils’ onward trajectories – when he arrived in York, it was unusual for any pupil to consider further education outside York but under his stewardship the school’s musical and academic standards improved, and the school developed relationships with senior schools throughout the country: so many Minster pupils gained scholarships to other prestigious senior schools like Eton, Winchester, Fettes and Oundle.
Richard remained at the Minster School until 2004, when he became Director of Development at York Minster. He was hugely successful in this role, securing over £10 million for the restoration of the Great East Window – a material legacy of his love for and commitment to the city of York and its community.
Richard sadly developed motor neurone disease, and died on 20th February 2021, aged 71. Our Foundation was set up in his name to continue the great work he achieved during his lifetime – bringing the experience and enjoyment of music to thousands of children across the region.
If you’d like to support us to achieve this goal, there are lots of ways you can do so - visit our Support Us page to find out more.
The Foundation is the owner of the royalties, manuscripts and printed works of Richard Shephard and Trustees are currently undertaking a project to ensure the proper management of these elements.
In the meantime, Richard’s music can be accessed at the following sites:
“Richard Shephard’s passion and dedication to music making in York really was inspirational.”
“I acted and sang in two of Richard’s operettas as a schoolboy in Salisbury. These were very formative moments for me, and I am grateful to Richard for this amazing opportunity, his encouragement and kindness.”
