Sharon Kaye

A classically trained Mezzo-Soprano, Sharon Kaye has sung with many companies in the United States, Europe and Pacific Rim. Locally these include San Francisco Lyric Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, San Jose Lyric Theatre, and Mission City Opera. She has also sung with the Grammy-Award-Winning San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera Chorus. Her roles include the Dames of Gilbert & Sullivan to Verdi’s Azucena, from Strauss’ Octavian to Ward’s Elizabeth Proctor and from Moore’s Augusta Tabor to the perennial favorites, Carmen and Dalila. Sharon's CD, Classic Christmas highlights her long relationship with master vocal coach, Russell Norman, and she has also been invited to record with the Bulgarian Radio Orchestra in Sophia.

Ms. Kaye participated in the inaugural year of BASOTI and has had the opportunity to participate in many competitions. She was a first place winner in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Competition. As an accomplished oratorio and recital soloist, she reaffirmed her artistry, winning 1st place in the professional division of Santa Clara University's International Art Song Festival.

She has also been active in the business of singing as a member of the Board of Governors for the American Guild of Musical Artists and is now the retired president of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing after four years in that office.

Sharon took undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, holds a Masters in Vocal Performance, and a Ph.D. in Historical Musicology from Ashford University. She is now returning to school for a elementary teacher’s credential.

Growing up in the Bay Area and returning here after an eight year career in Germany, Sharon saw a need for more quality performance opportunities in the Bay Area and so founded Mission City Opera in 1996. MCO was founded to provide an intimate arena for the many excellent local artists to present quality opera at an affordable price for Santa Clara and Bay Area residents. As General Director, she envisions the company growth to a full season, an expansion of the outreach programs to more elementary and secondary schools, and the opening of the Mission City Opera Academy to train the next generation in operatic professions of all kinds.

Affiliations:

· Private voice studio for over 35 years

· Gorin School of Music, Mountain View, CA

· West Bay Music Academy

· Member, National Association of Teachers of Singing NATS

· Member Music Teachers National Association MTNA (inactive)

· Member of the the American Guild of Musical Artists AGMA

· Member Music Educators National Conference MENC (inactive)

· Founder Mission City Opera MCO in Santa Clara, California