NEW SCOTLAND – When Jerome Shedd was young, he used to watch Leonard Bernstein on television, said his father, Bob Shedd.
"He would stand next to the fireplace, and point to the violins, or whatever section was supposed to play," he remembered. "He started conducting when he was a really little guy," said Bob Shedd with a chuckle.
While other kids were reading movie magazines, Jerome Shedd said that he was ordering orchestral scores. "It was something that fascinated me," he said.
"He’s always had an appreciation of classical music," said his father. "He’s just an all-around musician and he’s just up to his ears in it."

Recently, Bob Shedd and his wife, Mary Lou, were astonished to witness their son’s symphony performed at Lincoln Center in New York City by the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra’s Chamber Orchestra.
"It was a wonderful experience," said Jerome Shedd of having his composition played for the first time at the renowned Avery Fisher Hall.
"It was just a great concert," his father told The Enterprise. "It was, of course, quite a thrill to go and hear a piece like that, composed by our son," Bob Shedd said with pride.
"It’s a great place," Bob Shedd said of Avery Fisher Hall. "It was a beautiful day" There were a lot of people there.
"I don’t like New York City or any other big city" I’m a country boy," said Bob Shedd. "But, I wouldn’t have missed it for anything," he said of the debut of his son’s piece.
"He’s kind of calm," said Bob Shedd of his son, "but I’m sure he was happy to have his piece played like that, in a setting like that."
Conductor Patricia Koppies, when the piece was finished, "reached out her hand for Jerry; I don’t think she knew where he was" He stood up and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd" He was very happy," reminisced Bob Shedd.
"Love the children"

Jerome Shedd graduated from Voorheesville’s high school in 1965 and went on to get his master’s degree in composition from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam.

He taught instrumental music in public elementary schools in Rockland and Nassau counties for 33 years, while his wife, Lindi Bortney, was a vocal teacher. They have been married since 1985, and are now both retired, he said.

They live in Ritton, Vt., and are both members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus.

While still in college, Jerome Shedd did his student teaching in Schenectady under the supervision of Robert Campbell, he told The Enterprise.
Campbell advised him to "love the children," he recalled. "That stayed with me" Campbell was a wonderful educator."
Teaching music, Jerome Shedd said, especially at the elementary level, is not so much about music as an art form. "First and foremost, teaching music is about the children" helping them to grow," he said.
One of his former third-grade students, Michael Thornton, now plays central French horn for the Colorado Symphony, said Jerome Shedd. "Although that’s very satisfying, the career is more about the average child" and the number of students who experience music from the inside."

Musical roots

Music has been central in Jerome Shedd’s life, he told The Enterprise. "I couldn’t imagine not participating in music now, or at any point in my life."

Jerome Shedd’s musical upbringing began in Voorheesville Elementary School, where he was taught by Thomas Baker.

Baker taught at Voorheesville for 30 years, he told The Enterprise. He started teaching there in 1953, he said, when the entire school – including the high school – was in that building, which was, at that time, about half the size that it is now.
Baker taught music to grades one through 12, he said. "I also taught high-school band, chorus, and girls’ glee club," he said. "I was young then," he added with a chuckle.
"I knew Jerry in class about 40 years ago," Baker said. "I’ve had hundreds of kids since."
Even after four decades, and "so many little faces," Baker still remembers Jerome Shedd, he said.
"I do remember him as being very enthusiastic and cooperative," Baker said.
"He was incredible" I had him for many years," Jerome Shedd said of Baker. He taught music so that the students enjoyed it.

Jerome Shedd’s "self-esteem and self-worth were such that he would do anything," Baker said of his former student. "He wasn’t concerned with what others would think."
Jerome Shedd estimates that he has composed about 35 pieces. "For someone whose 60 years old, that’s not many," he said. "I don’t do it compulsively" I write only in response to a request."
He got a call in November of 2005, from Koppies, requesting that he write the piece that was recently played at Avery Fisher Hall, he said. "It took just about a year to complete."
His first composition was played in Voorheesville at the Clayton A. Bouton High School, Jerome Shedd remembered. He paired up with Don Person, to write a satire on the genre of surfing songs, he said. "He wrote lyrics; I sketched out a song," he said. "We thought it was hilarious."
Others who heard the song thought it should be played on the radio, he said, "We were mystified."

He also wrote a campaign song for a friend who ran for student council, he said.
"It was great to go from that on up to Avery Fisher Hall," he said.
"I’m a product of a public-school music program," concluded Jerome Shedd. "I understand that the program is even better now than it was then" It’s a credit to the community for continuing to support that program."