William Sharp

Praised by The New York Times as a "sensitive and subtle singer", Baritone William Sharp has earned a reputation as a singer of great versatility and continues to garner critical acclaim for his work in concert, recital, opera and recordings.

Highlights of Mr. Sharp's 1998-99 season were his second solo recital appearance in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the Vocal Arts Society and performances of "Sam" in Trouble in Tahiti with the Anchorage Symphony. Mr. Sharp's engagements in the 1997-98 season included performances of Pierre's Crusade of the Children with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and at Carnegie Hall in New York; Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and Handel's Dixit Dominus with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra; Saint John Passion with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Saint Matthew Passion with the Cathedral Choral Society in Washington, D.C. and Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Schoenberg arrangement) on tour with the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble in New York City, Ann Arbor, Kansas City and Ontario.

Mr. Sharp is the winner of several prestigious awards including the 1987 Carnegie Hall International Music Competition. He joined the faculty at the Aspen Music Festival in the summer of 1991. A highly respected recording artist, Mr. Sharp was nominated for a 1989 Grammy award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for his recording featuring the works of American composers (New World Records). His recording on the Koch label of Leonard Bernstein's Arias and Barcarolles with the New York Festival of Song received a 1990 Grammy award. Other recent recordings include the songs of Marc Blitzstein with The New York Festival of Song (Koch), and The Mass in B Minor with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem (Dorian).