Merlin Shepherd

Merlin Shepherd’s clarinet provides the perfect foil for his deep musicality. Whether he’s playing traditional Klezmer with the Sound&Light Cinematic Duo or wild ecstatic music with his quintet Hamsa or with Frank London’s Klezmer Brass Allstars and Boban Marcovic, or free-form wailing with Aaron Alexander’s Midrash Mish-Mosh, his music is a powerful and emotional force that redefines the instrument.
His unique musical voice can be experienced on his debut solo CD of original material, Intimate Hopes & Terrors, a unique collaboration with 10 of the top Klezmer musicians from the former Soviet Union. Merlin has been Musical Director for The Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London. He was also Klezmer Advisor for the Royal Shakespeare Company for their 1992 production of Anski’s  The Dybbuk. Composed scores for numerous dance and theatre companies. He is now working internationally with his quintet Hamsa.