Rejieli Shepherd—Paulo studied at the Melba Conservatorium of Music where she completed her Diploma/Bachelor of Music, for which she gained Distinctions in voice. She has been awarded numerous coveted prizes including the Dame Nellie Melba and Amelia Joscelyne scholarships.

Amongst Rejieli's achievements in recent years are numerous first places including the City of Sydney Opera Awards, the Austral Salon scholarship, the Australian Youth Aria, Boroondara Vocal Championship and the Vocal Championship of the Warrnambool Eisteddfod. She has three times been a Grand Finalist in the Herald—Sun Aria, taking first place in 2001. Rejieli was also the winner of the Marianne Mathy Award at the Australian singing competition at the Sydney Opera House. Rejieli has also been a member of the Opera Australia Chorus.

The role of Ciesca in Melbourne City Opera's Gianni Schicchi marked her professional operatic debut as a principal.