Jim Sharrock grew up in Waynesboro, Virginia. He is the oldest of five children, all of whom played musical instruments. He has played the oboe since age 10. He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in oboe performance from Louisiana State University, where he studied with the well-respected oboist E. Earnest Harrison. He played principal oboe in the Baton Rouge Symphony and has also played with the New Orleans Ballet, the New Orleans Symphony, the Ohio Light Opera Company, and locally with the Raylynmor Opera, the Keene Chamber Orchestra, and the Monadnock Chorus. He has also performed as an oboe and English horn soloist with several orchestras.

Since 2002 he has been the oboe teacher at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. A professional oboist for almost 30 years, Jim has performed under the baton of many fine conductors, including Maestros James Paul, Frank Wickes, Eric Stumacher, Lisa Talliacq, Peter Szep, Phil Lauriate, and Dr. Carroll Lehman. He credits them and his wonderful public school directors Margaret Helms, Ray Borrel, and Peter Phillips for being the greatest influences on his conducting.

For the last 20 years, he and his wife Cheryl have been the music directors of Jaffrey Bible Church. He served as the first conductor of the Harrisville Town Band, and he also directs the Monadnock Chorus Chamber Singers. Jim lives in Harrisville with Cheryl, his wife of 24 years, and their children Miriam (19) and Christopher (16), all of whom are musicians. They recently performed together for Actor’s Circle Theatre’s production of Peter Pan. Cheryl is an accompanist for many local groups, including the Monadnock Chorus and the Monadnock Chorus Chamber Singers.

Jim shared these additional thoughts: “I’ve been associated with the Monadnock Chorus for much of the last 20 years, playing in the orchestra, and helping my wife who has been the accompanist for many years. When Dr. Lehman announced his retirement, I was asked to lead the Monadnock Chorus Chamber Singers as an interim; one year later, I had the incredible thrill of being chosen to lead the full chorus! What an honor and a privilege to be entrusted with this responsibility from friends!”