William Sharp, Bass-Baritone

Praised by The New York Times as a “sensitive and subtle singer”, 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.

A frequent guest soloist with the Bethlehem Bach Festival, William Sharp appears regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Society, the New York Festival of Song, the Bard Music Festival, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble. He is also known for his performances of the early music repertoire, and frequently performs as soloist with the Handel and Haydn Society, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and the American Bach Soloists, in addition to his performances with the Bethlehem Bach Festival.

Recent performances include the role of Sam in Trouble in Tahiti with the Anchorage Symphony; Pierre’s Crusade of the Children with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and at Carnegie Hall; Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and Händel’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 on tour with the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble in New York City, Ann Arbor, Kansas City and Ontario.

A highly respected recording artist, William 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 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).  Mr. Sharp has performed with NYFOS since its earliest days, beginning in 1988 in Americans on America.