I attended the graduation ceremonies on Saturday 7th May 2011 of Berklee College of Music class of 2011. I watched as KHANDEYA SHEPPARD made history by being the FIRST FEMALE STEELPAN Principle Graduate at Berklee College of Music to walk across the stage.
Khandeya Sheppard comes from a family of Pannists, has played in steelbands from Baltimore MD, Brentwood MD, New York and Boston.
She has played with greats such as Jeff Narrell, Ray Holman, Ken Philmore, Robert Tobit of the T&T Defense Force Steel Orchestra, The Thwaites brothers and 2011 grammy award winner Esperanza Spalding just to name a few.
Mentors who have contributed to Kay’s musical development include Alston ‘Canon’ Jack, Isa Jack, Roger Sardhina Bertrand “Butch” Kelman, Leon ‘Smooth’ Edwards, Duvone Stewart, the Thwaites brothers, Patrick Davis, Adam Grise, Lennard Jack, Roger Greenidge, Ella Andall and many others.
She currently holds her BA in Music Business/Management and hopes to continue her studies, to attain experience with Music Publishing, Music Supervision, and Website Design. In the meanwhile, Kay is working on being a composer and a tutor for other steelpan players in her community. She hopes to help nuture future generations of steelpan players and expose them to the vast diversity of the instrument that has brought her so much joy the Steel Pan.
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