Polina Shepherd (RUS/GB; voice, piano)

Polina Shepherd is a performer, composer and choir leader originally from Russia, now living in the UK. Her singing is deeply rooted in east European folk. Growing up in Tatarstan also placed her close to Islamic ornamentation and timbre which forms a unique vocal style.

When living in Kazan, Tatarstan, and studying at the State Academy, she joined Russia′s first klezmer band after Perestroika, Simcha, 1990-2000. She soon became the principal Yiddish choir leader of the former Soviet Union, composing original material and touring internationally with her Quartet Ashkenazim, 1991-2007.

Moved to the UK in 2003.

The latest and so far most ambitious project is 150 Voices, a recorded collaboration with the lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics Lorin Sklamberg and choirs in the UK and USA. It explores the connection between the Steppes and the Shtetl through folk and art songs and newly composed originals. Apart from the original choirs, the Sklamberg - Shepherd Duo offer workshopping and performing 150 Voices with any group choir in the world.

Other collaborative projects include Folk-Cabaret The Stranniki with Psoy Korolenko, The Sound & Light Cinematic Duo with Merlin Shepherd - live accompaniment to black & white silent films from 1910-1930 and many more.

Amongst her latest compositions are a commission by YSW, Di Khasene by M. Kulbak, a cycle of erotic Yiddish songs for poems by T. K. Handler, a cycle to poetry by A. N. Stencl, as well as several large scale choral pieces.

Polina works as an educator leading choral workshops internationally.
Leads four choirs in the UK. Her specially developed choral teaching methods are based on specific East European sound, ornamentation, modal experimentation with attention to stylistic details, history and context.

www.polinashepherd.co.uk/
www.youtube.com/user/polinashepherd

 

Photo: Janusz Paliwoda