Master Director Sharon Carlson

“My vision for SOS remains the same as that first rehearsal in my living room: find every woman who loves to sing in Sonoma County; bring out the singing diva in each singer; promote self confidence in both the group and the individual. Seeing the ‘lights go on’ each week fills me with joy. I see no boundaries or limits to the size of the chorus nor the scope of music it can perform. To reach a contemporary world with our music we need to take risks and see the music through contemporary eyes. SOS has all that, and more!” ~Sharon Carlson

As the charter director of Song of Sonoma Chorus, Sharon brings over 39 years of performing expertise to her repertoire. She excels in interpretive dance and group dynamics and has a passion for the American art form of barbershop singing. Her personal achievements include award-winning quartets and international competitions  More importantly, she strives to inspire joy and excellence within the hearts of the chorus members.

Sharon also serves as a member of Region 12’s teaching and coaching Faculty and as a mentor, arranger and coach for directors and quartets across the country.  She is a Certified Music Judge, Chair of the international Membership Retention Committee, and Master Director.

With passion and joy in her art, Sharon leads fast-paced rehearsals aimed to motivate chorus members in vocal, choral, theater, music, and showmanship while expecting the gifts of the individual will shine.  Her passion for teaching is reflected in the chorus members’ talents as they become refined as a unit to achieve performance excellence. Sharon calls chorus members “professional learners” and takes “utter joy in making music together!” She’s genuinely humbled that so many savvy, exciting women come to “sing their hearts out and allow me to direct them”

Sharon compares Song of Sonoma Chorus to “a beautiful butterfly, always emerging with striking colors” and “flying in formation [to] create strength for the flock,” and where “each and every voice and personality adds so much in every way.”

Under Sharon’s enthusiasm as a coach, Song of Sonoma Chorus won its first regional competition in 2015 and competed at the Sweet Adelines International competition in 2016. With Sharon’s unbounded passion, we foresee an endless future of creative possibilities. #100 voices

How our SOS Sisters describe our director:

She is amazing, and all those words of fabulousness apply to her. I love her direction, the music she picks, and singing to her. She has had me laughing so hard I couldn’t sing. And I’ve been so touched by her words. She’s in my heart.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:10:21-08:00
She is amazing, and all those words of fabulousness apply to her. I love her direction, the music she picks, and singing to her. She has had me laughing so hard I couldn’t sing. And I’ve been so touched by her words. She’s in my heart.
Sharon exudes joy and enthusiasm that is contagious. She inspires us to excellence and expects us to give nothing less.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:01:51-08:00
Sharon exudes joy and enthusiasm that is contagious. She inspires us to excellence and expects us to give nothing less.
Sharon is both the kite and the string.  She soars and yet is grounded. There is so much to know about music, but that may be the easier part.  Inspiring each unique member to reach farther than she thought possible is the real skill.  And, she makes it fun!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:03:58-08:00
Sharon is both the kite and the string.  She soars and yet is grounded. There is so much to know about music, but that may be the easier part.  Inspiring each unique member to reach farther than she thought possible is the real skill.  And, she makes it fun!
Sharon is an incredibly special woman; talented, driven and funny.  What a great combination!  Without her tenacity, leadership and amazing insight we would be any chorus.  Not us – we are Song of Sonoma – a joyful, happy, passionate chorus who perform incredible music.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:05:02-08:00
Sharon is an incredibly special woman; talented, driven and funny.  What a great combination!  Without her tenacity, leadership and amazing insight we would be any chorus.  Not us – we are Song of Sonoma – a joyful, happy, passionate chorus who perform incredible music.
Amazingly talented and versatile! So thankful she is OUR director! I learn something new every week and I am so grateful that she has such high standards for all of us!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:08:12-08:00
Amazingly talented and versatile! So thankful she is OUR director! I learn something new every week and I am so grateful that she has such high standards for all of us!
Sharon is a powerhouse. She pulls you in and demands that you have fun while you work hard. And you do!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:13:18-08:00
Sharon is a powerhouse. She pulls you in and demands that you have fun while you work hard. And you do!
My first rehearsal I stood before Sharon and thought, “I don’t care what we’re doing here, I want to be in front of this lady!” Sharon has this beautiful ability to tell a story to get the results she wants from the group. She’s an exceptional leader! Love her to death!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:10:00-08:00
My first rehearsal I stood before Sharon and thought, “I don’t care what we’re doing here, I want to be in front of this lady!” Sharon has this beautiful ability to tell a story to get the results she wants from the group. She’s an exceptional leader! Love her to death!
She is a very talented, wise, gracious and loving person. And she has the wisdom and strength to stand firm when enforcing boundaries. Very important to keep 20 or 50+ WOMEN on track to reach all the amazing goals in our vision! No easy task!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:05:28-08:00
She is a very talented, wise, gracious and loving person. And she has the wisdom and strength to stand firm when enforcing boundaries. Very important to keep 20 or 50+ WOMEN on track to reach all the amazing goals in our vision! No easy task!
Sharon is particularly gifted at explaining concepts in a way that “sticks” and is engaging.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:09:21-08:00
Sharon is particularly gifted at explaining concepts in a way that “sticks” and is engaging.
Supportive, humorous, focused and tough. She is inspirational. I was ready to give up after a few visits, but she encouraged and supported me and now I love being part of SOS.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:11:06-08:00
Supportive, humorous, focused and tough. She is inspirational. I was ready to give up after a few visits, but she encouraged and supported me and now I love being part of SOS.
She is a dreamer who gets things done. Many of us dream but do not take the initiative to accomplish our dreams. Probably would not follow her into Hell, but would get close enough to feel the heat if that is where she was heading. Trust her implicitly!!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:08:56-08:00
She is a dreamer who gets things done. Many of us dream but do not take the initiative to accomplish our dreams. Probably would not follow her into Hell, but would get close enough to feel the heat if that is where she was heading. Trust her implicitly!!
Fantastic, fabulous, fun, caring, relentless.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:04:43-08:00
Fantastic, fabulous, fun, caring, relentless.
Sharon’s enthusiasm was the draw for me to this chorus. I was amazed at how much she enjoys seeing each of us achieve personal success. She’s warm and inviting, and I’m so glad she’s ours!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:10:42-08:00
Sharon’s enthusiasm was the draw for me to this chorus. I was amazed at how much she enjoys seeing each of us achieve personal success. She’s warm and inviting, and I’m so glad she’s ours!
Describe Sharon?  Hmm – Really cool hairstyle and wonderful smile!  Outstanding devotion to SOS.  Her enthusiasm never wavers as she teaches, coaches, pushes each of us to seek and find the best singer and performer in ourselves.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:07:47-08:00
Describe Sharon?  Hmm – Really cool hairstyle and wonderful smile!  Outstanding devotion to SOS.  Her enthusiasm never wavers as she teaches, coaches, pushes each of us to seek and find the best singer and performer in ourselves.
Sharon is amazing. She sincerely cares about the women in her chorus and has a wonderful wicked sense of humor. Music is her life and she works diligently to make the individuals in the choir reach their potential. She does not tolerate anything less–which is a good thing. I look forward to getting to know her more as the months and years go by.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:11:32-08:00
Sharon is amazing. She sincerely cares about the women in her chorus and has a wonderful wicked sense of humor. Music is her life and she works diligently to make the individuals in the choir reach their potential. She does not tolerate anything less–which is a good thing. I look forward to getting to know her more as the months and years go by.
Honest, Fun, Incredibly Talented, Wise, Fun, Loyal, Knowledgeable, Creative, Beautiful, Funny, Brilliant, and did I say – Fun?!!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:02:42-08:00
Honest, Fun, Incredibly Talented, Wise, Fun, Loyal, Knowledgeable, Creative, Beautiful, Funny, Brilliant, and did I say – Fun?!!
Sharon is intense and loving at the same time. She passionately communicates her vision for her chorus to achieve excellence for each member and as an ensemble.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:12:53-08:00
Sharon is intense and loving at the same time. She passionately communicates her vision for her chorus to achieve excellence for each member and as an ensemble.
A passion for the art and a drive for excellence – she is delightful, warm, funny (and if you’re not prepared, slightly scary) ?
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:06:39-08:00
A passion for the art and a drive for excellence – she is delightful, warm, funny (and if you’re not prepared, slightly scary) ?
Sharon is passionate about Barbershop music and her chorus, Song of Sonoma. She is aware, intuitive, caring, fun and loving. She does an amazing job directing and leading as she inspires positive, direct and immediate results.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:05:51-08:00
Sharon is passionate about Barbershop music and her chorus, Song of Sonoma. She is aware, intuitive, caring, fun and loving. She does an amazing job directing and leading as she inspires positive, direct and immediate results.
PASSIONATE about barbershop! Sees joy in every aspect of our craft.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:03:21-08:00
PASSIONATE about barbershop! Sees joy in every aspect of our craft.
Passionate. Demanding. Hilarious.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:04:16-08:00
Passionate. Demanding. Hilarious.
Sharon is amazing, apart from being a talented and brilliant director she is also so kind and encouraging. I might have been too intimidated to come back after week 1 if it was not for her kind words and reassurance.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:06:15-08:00
Sharon is amazing, apart from being a talented and brilliant director she is also so kind and encouraging. I might have been too intimidated to come back after week 1 if it was not for her kind words and reassurance.
A perfectionist, an artist, a writer, an Angel and a tremendous inspiration for recognizing great music in each one of us.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:12:00-08:00
A perfectionist, an artist, a writer, an Angel and a tremendous inspiration for recognizing great music in each one of us.
She is everything you could ask for in a director in all the right amounts!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:03:39-08:00
She is everything you could ask for in a director in all the right amounts!
Sharon is a great teacher, a lover of music who relates that love to everyone. She brings out the best in us. She is patient, kind and tender hearted. She treats everyone as an equal, never above any of us.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:07:24-08:00
Sharon is a great teacher, a lover of music who relates that love to everyone. She brings out the best in us. She is patient, kind and tender hearted. She treats everyone as an equal, never above any of us.
Sharon is an inspirational leader and a genuinely kind and loving soul who leads with humor, a sharp eye, and sensitive ear…and she’s ours!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:03:07-08:00
Sharon is an inspirational leader and a genuinely kind and loving soul who leads with humor, a sharp eye, and sensitive ear…and she’s ours!
Sharon is such a breath of fresh air. Every Tuesday she brings 100% energy and dedication to SOS and I am so grateful to be under her direction.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:06:58-08:00
Sharon is such a breath of fresh air. Every Tuesday she brings 100% energy and dedication to SOS and I am so grateful to be under her direction.
Sharon is a strong woman with such a passion for music. She listens to the intuitive message of music and doesn’t get in the way of what the music is supposed to sound like. She is a true talent.
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:08:36-08:00
Sharon is a strong woman with such a passion for music. She listens to the intuitive message of music and doesn’t get in the way of what the music is supposed to sound like. She is a true talent.
“Bossy” in that chorus director sort of way, “sarcastic” well…in that sassy director sort of way, “incredulous” in that “Good God when are you going to practice on your own time” kind of way, fun, passionate, exciting, great sense of humor, pushy, easily pleased in lots of ways, if you’ll just do it right!!!
Song of Sonoma
2017-11-10T07:12:24-08:00
“Bossy” in that chorus director sort of way, “sarcastic” well…in that sassy director sort of way, “incredulous” in that “Good God when are you going to practice on your own time” kind of way, fun, passionate, exciting, great sense of humor, pushy, easily pleased in lots of ways, if you’ll just do it right!!!
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Song of Sonoma