About the label

Our mission – giving a voice to the new and the neglected

Our primary aim is to curate a collection of music from all periods and styles that is worthy of greater attention, either because it has been neglected, or because it hasn’t yet been made available on record.

History

FS Records was founded in Autumn 2018 by Francis Shepherd, initially with the ambition of releasing a recording of mostly unheard lute music from the early 16th century by his father, lutenist and lutemaker Martin Shepherd. As well as undertaking concert recording work and other projects, the label’s second album, A Ceremony of Psalms was released in November 2019, followed by other projects including November Journeys, a disc of English brass music, released in 2020. Current projects include a two-disc set of Schubert lieder, a disc of choral music by a living female composer, and an album of lute music from Elizabethan London. Nearly all of these projects will include a substantial number of previously unrecorded works.

Who we are

Francis Shepherd – Label founder

Francis started the label in the Autumn of 2018. He was educated in Manchester and at University College, Oxford, where he read Music. Originally a cellist, Francis is also a singer, conductor and organist. He currently works for Southwell Minster, and also works in various capacities for Organists’ Review magazine.

Distribution

Our titles are distributed in partnership with Willowhayne Records Ltd worldwide via the Naxos network.