Cellist Irene Sharp is an internationally acclaimed teacher who is passionate about teaching students to express the beauty of music with ease through a healthy technique. Having observed and collaborated with the great cellists of the world, Ms. Sharp brings a unique and valuable perspective to her cello class. Students in her studio benefit from a bi-monthly performance class with a provided accompanist to prepare their repertoire and hone their skills.
Ms. Sharp’s personal connections to colleagues such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Janos Starker, Leonard Rose, Pablo Casals, Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman, and Natalia Gutman to name a few have immensely benefitted her student’s knowledge of the cello and cello teaching. Always learning, Ms. Sharp continues to perform recitals, and also travels to Europe to observe the great cello teachers and performers as she has done for many years. Video footage is available of her historic performance in Pablo Casals’ master classes, which took place at UC Berkeley, California.
Ms. Sharp received an Outstanding Teacher award from the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA). Based in Northern California, Ms. Sharp has taught and led teacher-training workshops in cities worldwide, and has given master classes for ASTA, the Australian String Teachers Association, and the Suzuki Association of America. She travels monthly to New York to teach at the Mannes School of Music.
Artistic Director and Founder of California Summer Music, now in its 20th season, Ms. Sharp created a festival for outstanding young string players, pianists and composers. This festival encourages the collaboration of young artists and composers, while actively promoting and performing new music. Ms. Sharp has previously served on the faculties of Meadowmount School for Strings, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, and Indiana University’s String Academy.
Ms. Sharp’s former students play in many major orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Showing the unique verstatility of her teaching, many of her students are soloists and chamber music artists that perform worldwide.