Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano
A native Texan, Pamela Bingham Sheppard has been a professional musician and teacher her entire adult life. Moving from a small Texas town to Houston, she fell in love with the richness of cultures, art, and music. She has taught students from all over the world and loves bringing students of all backgrounds together through music. Whether as a beginner or as an older student preparing for auditions or competitions, Pam takes great joy in finding a path of study that works for each unique person.
Pam’s professional performance career began during her undergraduate studies at Texas Tech University as second clarinetist in the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and the Roswell Symphony Orchestra in New Mexico. Later, while pursuing a Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, she was a clarinetist with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra, followed by six years as an alternate/sub clarinetist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Life then led her to work as a feature clarinetist with Klezmer bands and as a clarinet/saxophone/keyboard player with variety bands. Pam is the Artistic Director for the Houston Balalaika Society Orchestra. This eclectic musical background has enriched her approach to teaching all styles of music.
Ms. Sheppard’s teaching experience began as a private lesson teacher in the area school districts, followed by working as an adjunct professor of music at Houston Community College. At HCC, she taught private clarinet lessons, clarinet choir, world music ensemble, class piano, and music theory. Quite a few of her former students have gone on to play professionally or become music teachers, too. No matter your goals, Pam knows music enriches your life forever, and she would love to help you reach those goals, be it learning for the first time or improving your current skills!
Pam was awarded a full scholarship to the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she earned a Master of Music degree. She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.