Sharon began her piano studies at age 6. Her formal vocal training began her college freshman year. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she is a longstanding member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences; the Music Teachers National Association, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Her teachers/coaches include Elizabeth Nohe Colson, Melissa Fontaine, Sandra Crawford, Helen Bickers, Donna Angel, Gwen Halstead, Sandra Lutters, William Fox, Scott Fugate, and B.J. Hughes.
In the southeast, she has sung with Capitol City Opera Company, Peachtree Repertory Opera, the Michael O'Neal Chamber Singers, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the MLK Commemorative Choir at Ebenezer Baptist, and the 1996 Paralympic Gospel Choir. Abroad, she has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, at London's Westminster Abbey, and Coventry Cathedral. In her 23 seasons with the ASO Chorus, she has won 3 Grammy Awards and performed in the U.S. at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Chicago Ravinia Festival, and the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami.
In addition to piano Sharon plays handbells, and loves to demonstrate rhythms to her students on small percussion instruments. A lyric mezzo-soprano, she has done solo work for both Atlanta secular and sacred groups. Presently, she serves the Episcopal church as both Handbell Director and staff singer at St. Peter and St. Paul, Marietta. Originally from Wisconsin, she considers herself a "'naturalized Georgian". Since 2005 she has been teaching both children and adults at her Word & Song Music Studio, located near the Decatur Courthouse Square. Presently, because of the pandemic, she is not accepting new students.
