Biography of Soprano Sharon Maxwell

Sharon is a native New Yorker who received her training at The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, during which time she worked with Maestro Anton Guadagno and Helen Vanni. She also studied in Spoleto, Italy and received third prize in the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition.

Miss Maxwell began performing at the age of three and made her debut at the age of 15 singing as the youngest member with America’s Youth in Concert at Carnegie Hall. She toured Europe with the group, appearing in Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as concert halls of Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France.

Sharon has appeared as soprano soloist with the Sonoma State University Orchestra, singing Mozart’s Mass in C Minor. She starred as Maria in The Sound of Music with the Marin Civic Light Opera, displaying what critics called “a voice as clear as Baccarat crystal”. She performed with San Francisco’s renowned Lamplighters Music Theatre as Angelina in Gilbert & Sullivan’s "Trial by Jury", Rosalinda in "Die Fledermaus", and Hanna in "The Merry Widow", for which she was nominated “Best Actress in a Musical” by the Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle.

Other performances include leading roles with Opera San Jose, including Miss Jessel in Benjamin Britten’s "The Turn of the Screw" and First Lady in Mozart’s "The Magic Flute", under the direction of Daniel Helfgot. With West Bay Opera, Miss Maxwell sang the role of Rosalinda in "Die Fledermaus", Norina in "Don Pasquale", as well as a double-bill in one night - the leading role in "The Face on the Barroom Floor" (a contemporary work of Henry Mollicone) , and Nedda in "I Pagliacci".

With Lyric Theatre of San Jose, she bowed at the Lucy Stern Theatre in the title role of "Naughty Marietta" and reprised her success as Hanna in "The Merry Widow" with Livermore Valley Opera.

With Bay Shore Lyric Opera, she sang Mimi in "La Boheme" and received a standing ovation for her opening-night performance as Cio-Cio-san in "Madama Butterfly", under the direction of the great Mdme. Licia Albanese.

On the concert stage, Miss Maxwell is a founding member of Opera Bravura. Their concert "Three Divos & a Diva" was broadcast on Bay Area Television.

Miss Maxwell currently performs on the concert stage and has a special interest in contemporary works, singing the music of composer Webster Young in New York City.

Crossing over from opera to Broadway, she has performed in nightclubs in New York City, San Francisco and on cruise ships for Celebrity Cruise Lines.

Sharon played the lead role of Reno Sweeny in the Cole Porter classic, "Anything Goes!" at Woodside Community Theatre as well as the dramatic role of Julie Dosier in the Kern and Hammerstein beloved classic musical "Show Boat" with Broadway By The Bay, which earned her another nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical by the Bay Area Theatre Critic's Circle.

Notable performances in 2007 included the roles of Nedda in "I Pagliacci" and Santuzza in "Cavalleria Rusticana" with West Bay Opera.

Sharon sang the role of Cio-Cio-san in "Madama Butterfly" with Mission City Opera in February of 2008. She also sang the title role of Lilli Vanessi/Kate in Cole Porter's classic, "Kiss Me Kate" in May of 2009.

Sharon was thrilled to once again sing the role of Mimi in "La Boheme" with Mission City Opera in February of 2010.

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