Biography
FILM COMPOSER- Select works / Features Films / TV/ Theatre / Art
Indemnity- Feature Film- Gambit Films [2020]- Score composed by Kyle Shepherd; Directed by Travis Taute
Barakat- Feature Film- PaperJet Films [2020]- Score composed by Kyle Shepherd; Directed by Amy Jephta
Fiela Se Kind [2019]- Feature Film- The Film Factory (2019)- Score composed by Kyle Shepherd; Directed by Brett Michael Innes
Noem My Skollie / Call Me Thief [2016] - Score Composed by Kyle Shepherd ; Directed by Daryne Joshua
William Kentridge "Waiting for the Sibyl" [2019]- Multi Media Opera- Music composed by Kyle Shepherd and Nhlanhla Mahlangu
The Life and Time of Michael K [2020]- Theatre production- Handspring puppet company/baster theatre; directed by Lara Foot- Score composed by Kyle Shepherd
Koortjies Met Jonathan Rubain [2020] - TV show- Kyle Shepherd Co creator and producer.
Lui Maar op Belinda [2019] - TV Show- Score composed by Kyle Shepherd.
"Can You See Me" [2019]- AD Campaign- A21- Score composed by Kyle Shepherd; Directed by Bruce Macdonald.
Tiaan Onthou [2018]- TV Show- Score Composed by Kyle Shepherd
Sinking: Xa Sinqamla Unxubo' by Lhola Amira - a multi-media arts installation exhibited at the renowned SMAC Gallery in Cape Town [2018]. Soundtrack composed & produced by Kyle Shepherd
Action Kommandant [2016] - Featuring several music tracks by Kyle Shepherd: A documentary produced and directed by Nadine Cloete.
Xamissa, Place of Sweet Water [2013] - festival-commissioned music project composed by Kyle Shepherd & performed at Festival d'Automne à Paris.
Four Corners [2014] - Featuring song "Bobbejaan / Minstrels Go to Court" by Kyle Shepherd
The Uprising of Hangberg [2011] - Featuring Original Music by Kyle Shepherd. A documentary film by Dylan Valley & Aryan Kaganof.
Mama Goema: The Cape Town Beat in Five Movements [2011] - Featured music by & interview with Kyle Shepherd. A documentary film, produced, filmed and directed by Angela Ramirez, Sara de Gouveia & Calum MacNaughton.
The Exhibition of Vandalism [2010] - Featuring music / sound improvisational performances by Kyle Shepherd & the late Zim Ngqawana. A documentary film, documenting a healing ceremony performed by Zim Ngqawana and Kyle Shepherd in the ravaged body of the Zimology Institute for higher learning in January 2010. The film was directed, filmed and edited by Aryan Kaganof of the African Noise Foundation.
AFRIKAAPS [2010] - Featuring Kyle Shepherd in music performances composed in collaboration with Jitsvinger, Blaq Pearl, Emile Jansen and Shane Cooper for the musical theatre production, Afrikaaps. A documentary film by Dylan Valley based on the musical theatre production Afrikaaps, a Glasshouse / The Baxter Theatre production, directed by Catherine Henegan.
'Die Buitestaanders' - featuring music by Kyle Shepherd a music production by Mareli Stolp & Magdalene Minnaar.
BIOGRAPHY
Kyle Shepherd is arguably one of South Africa's leading progressive pianists, composers and band leaders of his generation. Internationally recognized for his distinctive compositional style & performances, Shepherd has made a huge impression on debut as a film score composer for the critically-acclaimed film, Noem My Skollie / Call Me Thief - South Africa's official entry to the 2017 Academy Awards - for which he scored a nomination for the 2017 South African Film & Television Award [SAFTA] for Best Achievement in an Original Music Score in a Feature Film. He was awarded the 2018 South African Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Award: Book, Creative Collection and Digital Contribution 2018, hosted by the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS), for 'Best Musical Composition' for his composition, 'Noem My Skollie'! Shepherd's music also features prominently in independent film-maker Nadine Cloete's documentary, Action Kommandant, based on the untold story of the young South African revolutionary freedom fighter, Ashley Kriel. In March / April 2018, Shepherd's musical soundtrack was featured in Lhola Amira's multi-media arts exhibition, entitled 'Sinking: Xa Sinqamla Unxubo', at the renowned SMAC Gallery in Cape Town.
The 33 year old virtuoso pianist who has a well-established record of celebrated performances in South Africa, Europe, Asia (including Japan, India and China), Canada and the USA, has already released seven critically acclaimed albums in his young career. In 2016, Shepherd was invited to curate the 49th SWR NEWJazz Meeting in Germany. This episode of the prestigious 2016 NEWJazz Meeting comprised four days' of rehearsals in the broadcasting studios of the Südwestrundfunk, followed by a concert tour in the SWR broadcasting area from 25 to 27 November 2016. A Double Album entitled SWR NEWJazz Meeting 2016: Sound Portraits From Contemporary Africa comprising the best performance tracks recorded during the concert tour, was released under the SWR Jazzhaus label in 2017! The album features Kyle Shepherd on piano & keyboard, Lionel Loueke [Benin / USA] on guitar & vocals, Mthunzi Mvubu - on saxophone, Shane Cooper on bass & Jonno Sweetman on drums & percussion. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack composed by Shepherd for the feature film 'Noem My Skollie / Call Me Thief' was released in November 2016. 'Dream State', a 21-track double album of his Trio released in 2014 garnered nominations for both the 2015 South African Music Award [SAMA] and a 2015 Metro FM Music Award in the Jazz Category. His debut solo piano offering 'Into Darkness', recorded in Japan, was launched with a tour in the South-East Asian country in the same year [2014] and included a performance at the prestigious Tokyo Jazz Festival. Previous releases 'fineART [2009]', 'A Portrait of Home' [2010] & 'South African History !X' [2014], also attracted SAMA nominations.
AWARDS
"Best Original Score"- Fiela se Kind- Silwerskerm Film Festival [2019] "Best original Score"- Noem My Skollie- Humanities and Social Sciences Award [2018] UNISA National Piano Competition Award [2015]- Winner Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year' Award [2014] 21 ICONS South Africa Season III' [November 2015]
Kyle Shepherd graduated with a Masters of Music degree cum laude from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africain 2018.
