Timothy Sharp

Tim Sharp conducts the Rhodes Singers, MasterSingers, teaches Conducting and African American Music, and holds the Elizabeth G. Daughdrill Chair in The Fine Arts. He chairs the Department of Music and is the College Dean of Fine Arts. Sharp is author of “Precision Conducting,” “Achieving Choral Balance and Blend,” “Precision Conducting Anthology” (Roger Dean), "Memphis Music Before the Blues" (Arcadia), contributing author to “Up Front! Becoming the Complete Choral Conductor”, and “Collaborative Creativity” (Free Association). Extended choral works include “An Early American Service of Lessons and Carols” (Church Street), “Salvation is Created” (Lorenz), “Vivaldi's Gloria for Young Voices,” “Christmas Messiah for Young Voices” (Integra), and numerous sacred choral anthems. His extended children's choral work “Mendelssohn's Elijah for Young Voices” (Integra) was awarded the American Library Association's “Booklist Award.”

Sharp writes the “Hallelujah!” column for Choral Journal, and has served on the editorial board since 1991. He is on the Research and Publications Committee for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His research is published in the Moravian Music Journal, Choral Journal, the International Musicological Society, and the Society for Education, Music, and Psychology Research. Recent professional presentations include ACDA Conventions, SEMPRE, the International Musicological Society, Moravian Music Foundation, The Blues Foundation, College Music Society, and The Society for 18th Century Music.

Sharp has conducted the Rhodes Singers and MasterSingers Chorale in performances at Carnegie Hall (The Choral Cycles of Morten Lauridsen, 2004 and 2006), St. MarkÅås Cathedral (Venice), Church of St. Ambrose (Milan), Washington National Cathedral (DC), St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York), International Church Music Festival with David Willcocks (Bern), Cannon Center, Germantown Performing Arts Center, Orpheum Theater (Memphis), and in performances with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Opera Memphis. In 2003 he was awarded the Ostrander Award for “Best Musical Direction” for the McCoy Theatre production of Puccini's “Gianni Schicci.” He has choral credits on Glen Campbell's Grammy nominated and Dove Award winning recording “A Glen Campbell Christmas,” and has conducted and worked in performance with recording artists Twila Paris, Don Potter, and Michael Kelly Blanchard.

Sharp received his degrees from The School of Church Music (Louisville, KY) and Belmont University (Nashville, TN), and has studied at the Aspen Music School (Aspen, CO), Harvard University (Cambridge, MA), Cambridge University (Cambridge, UK), and through a Rotary Foundation Scholarship throughout schools in Belgium. He is a Life Fellow at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge.

Precision Conducting: Seven Disciplines for Excellence in Conducting

Analyzing the Score Internalizing the Score Marking the Score Planning the Rehearsal Rehearsing the Rehearsal Conducting the Score The Drama of Conducting The Meter/Tempo Function The Interpretive Function The Start/Entrance - Stop/Cutoff Function Researching the Score Conducting Checklist Single-Movement Chart Exercise Performer's Marking Sheet Recommendations for Meter/Tempo Exercise

This text is a unique find for the aspiring conductor -- a sequenced approach to the many musical and extra-musical conducting skills that doesn't find itself mired in a complex presentation. Revised to include additional step-by-step exercises and examples, it remains rooted in its "Seven Disciplines for Excellence in Conducting." Promoting the kind of focused, dedicated study that conducting requires, these seven disciplines -- analyzing, internalizing, researching, marking and conducting the score, and planning and rehearsing the rehearsal -- build on each other to continually reinforce earlier disciplines. Well suited for both self study and use in a conducting course or seminar, Precision Conducting is also an excellent resource for those looking to refresh an existing skill set.

Precision Conducting: Achieving Choral Blend and Balance

The Essential Choral Tone Achieving Balance Achieving Blend Interpretive Issues Glossary of Terms The Choral Singer's Guide to Good Vocal Production Audition and Evaluation Materials International Phonetic Alphabet Chart

"Sound" is the chemistry of musical sounds intended to culminate in the potential of not just sound, but beautiful sound; not just expression, but enhanced and beautiful expression. In the case of a choral ensemble, this sound ideal is the result of many important factors. Precision Conducting: Achieving Choral Blend and Balance presents a thorough yet practical discussion of these factors, which include determining the vocal classification and the physical placement of singers; techniques to achieve rhythmic precision, vowel unification and good intonation; and performance practice in each of the major historical periods. Each major focus area also includes short, targeted lists of Guiding Principles, Common Tendencies, and Problems and Suggested Solutions, along with tips for Problem Solving. A reproducible IPA Chart as well as Audition and Evaluation Materials are included, as is "The Choral Singer's Guide to Good Vocal Production," a handout for your choir members.

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