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Sharon Minemoto, piano

Since the age of sixteen, Sharon Minemoto has been performing to audiences around the world.  She is the leader of a trio, a quartet and a quintet. Her trio and quintet have each released one CD as well as several shows for CBC Radio.  Her quartet's recording, “Safe Travels”, took the band on a Canadian tour in February and March of 2018.  The band recently recorded their second album which will be released later in 2023. In addition to her own ensembles, she has performed in groups led by Jill Townsend, Cory Weeds, Brad Turner, James Danderfer, Laura Crema, Alan Matheson, Mike Allen, The Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Phoenix Chamber Choir.  She is the recipient of two Canada Council for the Arts grants and one BC Arts Council Grant.  Her last grant took her to New York City for 4 months to study with Renee Rosnes and Kenny Werner.  In 2015, Sharon teamed up with vocalist Melissa van der Schyff for two very successful concerts, one at the legendary jazz club, Birdland in NYC and the other at The Abbey Theatre in Orlando, Florida.  In 2019, CBC Radio in Vancouver selected one of Sharon’s compositions as the new theme song for their weekly jazz program, “Hot Air”.   Sharon was the host of the weekly Pat’s Pub jazz jam session for over ten years.  In addition to performing, she is on faculty at Vancouver Community College and most recently, she has been programming the Saturday Jazz series at La Fabrique St. George.