About Sharon Singer
Toronto-born Sharon Singer is a published poet, librettist, writer, speaker and spoken word performer. With an Honours B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Toronto, Sharon has been writing poetry since her teenage years. In addition to four published poetry books, Sharon’s work has been included in poetry journals, anthologies, and as original art posters, as well as on three CDs set to classical, jazz and New Age music.
Most recently, based on her more than thirty year study of ancient Egyptian culture, Sharon adapted the ancient Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris as an opera for which Sharon wrote the libretto. In 2009, Sharon formed ARIAWORKS to develop “Isis and Osiris” toward its world premiere at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, produced by Voicebox:Opera in Concert.
“Isis and Osiris” had its first public performance at the Art Gallery of Ontario on March 31, 2010 in Walker Court. The production was co-produced by Ariaworks and Opera in Concert with Stage Director Guillermo Silva-Marin, Music Director David Eliakis, starring Amanda Jones, Stefan Fehr, Joseph Angelo and Douglas Tranquada.
Working with award-winning composer Peter-Anthony Togni, Sharon produced a Concert and Fundraiser on December 2, 2013 for “Isis and Osiris” at Heliconian Hall in Yorkville. It was an extremely successful event and showcased the first public performance of the Love Scene from the opera to a live sold-out house with singers Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano and Joseph Angelo, tenor. The fundraising exceeded anticipated goals, and the composer continues to work on the musical score.
Sharon began collaborating with musicians and composers over ten years ago. Guitarist Richard P. Elliott composed evocative soundscapes for her poetry texts, which they performed together in Toronto clubs. In 2006, Ottawa composer Colin Mack set three of Sharon’s poems to classical music resulting in the song cycle “The Names of Water” sung by soprano Doreen Taylor-Claxton for her CD “Hail: Canadian Art Song.” Also in 2006, Sharon was commissioned to write lyrics by Hamilton composer Marko Lukac for his CD “Sunrise.” In 2008, Wordsinger Music released Sharon Singer’s jazz/spoken word CD “Global Warming,” a collaboration with renowned New York jazz saxophonist Bob Mover. Also in 2008 Toronto composer Philip McConnell wrote music for Sharon’s short story “The Museum” and her documentary poem, “The Burning Book” which Sharon performed with the Toronto Sinfonietta Orchestra at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.
Sharon’s published poetry books include “Global Warming,” LyricalMyrical Press (2008); “Moses,” Batsheva Books (2007); “The Last Years of the Natural World,” Rising Phoenix Press (2002); and “Fire Rider,” Fire Mountain Press (1996).