Sheldon Sands was born December 25th, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio. His musical development was strongly supported by his parents; a father who played his beloved classical and ethnic favorites by ear on the piano, and a mother who always encouraged his music practice and pursuits. By the time he reached his teens, Sheldon had become proficient at the classics, though the music he loved had been the great popular hits of the 60's including Motown, the Folk Revival, the Beatles and the Blues. He soon found his way to these styles on the piano. Jazz studies ensued, and he began to compose his own songs and instrumental pieces, a practice that continues to this day.
In 1981 Sheldon moved to Boulder, Colorado, where he took up private lessons with the renowned composer, pianist and recording artist, Bill Douglas. This lead to studies at the Naropa Institute, with an intensive emphasis on world music, jazz, and improvisation in an atmosphere that promoted a contemplative approach to the arts and learning. Since completing his BA in Music in 1986, Sheldon has continued to perform on the piano as a soloist and in a number of acclaimed popular bands. He created a successful teaching practice, and expanded upon his abilities to include synthesizers and hand percussion. Through the 90’s, he studied "Music: Health and Healing" with Don Campbell, "Music for People" with David Darling, and improvisation and composition with Art Lande.
In 1995 Sheldon released "Across Many Oceans", a critically acclaimed CD of original compositions that cross cultural borders, celebrating our planet’s human and ecological diversity in a light-hearted journey through multiple ethnic and contemporary styles. In 1997 Sheldon was awarded a seven month artistic residency in Arad, Israel. His time there provided a rich opportunity to study Middle Eastern music, compose, roam the desert, and to get deeply in touch with the spirit of the land and its diverse peoples, culminating in a series of recording sessions in Tel Aviv in the Spring of 1998 with some of Israel’s top Jewish and Arabic musicians.
The CD, "Dead
Sea Strolls," was released
in March 2002.
In
October 1999 initiated Shalhevet Productions, bringing "The Poetry of Peace, Spiritual Music of the Middle East", to the historic Boulder Theater, featuring Turkish/Egyptian virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and the Jewish/world music ensemble Davka.
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