Sharon J. Paul is Professor of Music, Chair of Vocal and Choral Studies, and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Oregon, where she teaches graduate courses in choral conducting, repertoire, and pedagogy, and conducts the Chamber Choir and University Singers. She earned her D.M.A. in choral conducting from Stanford University, an M.F.A. in conducting from UCLA, and a B.A. in music from Pomona College.

Dr. Paul served as Artistic Director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) and conductor of Chorissima and Virtuose, the organization’s acclaimed performance ensembles, from 1992 to July 2000. Under her leadership, the chorus released four compact discs, premiered major works by composers such as Chen Yi and Jake Heggie, represented the United States at four international festivals, and performed at the California Music Educators’ state conference, the American Choral Directors’ Western Division conference, and the International Society for Music Education’s international conference. In June 2000 the SFGC was the first youth chorus to win the Margaret Hillis Achievement Award for Choral Excellence, a national honor presented by Chorus America. In the same year they were also awarded an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.

From 1984 to 1992, Dr. Paul served as Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Chico, where she directed a large choral program and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, choral literature, and the humanities. In 1991 Dr. Paul received the Outstanding Teacher Award at CSU, Chico.

Dr. Paul has presented interest sessions at regional, state, division, national, and international music conferences. She appears frequently as adjudicator, clinician, and honor choir director throughout the country, with recent engagements in Texas, California, Georgia, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Florida. University of Oregon choirs under her direction have performed by juried audition at National Association for Music Education state and divisional conferences, and at ACDA Northwest Division conferences. The UO Chamber Choir participated in two recent international festivals, winning First Prize in the 2013 Fleischmann International Trophy Competition in Cork, Ireland and taking top honors in two categories at the 2011 Tallinn International Choral Festival in Tallinn, Finland.