KAREN SHARP (trombone/vocals) — Karen joined the Gateway City Big Band in 1993.
A graduate of Lindbergh High School, she was the Drum Major for the marching band and played in about every group that involved brass, including the Symphonic and Jazz bands. She played and sang in a local classic rock group, Sundance and Brass, until she went away to college. At the University of Missouri-Columbia she played with the Jazz Ensemble and got her first experience singing with a big band.
After college, Karen hung up her horn for a few years before joining another big band in town where a Gateway member heard her and invited her to come sit in with the Big Band. After playing trombone with Gateway for a year, she started singing with them in 1994.
In the Spring of 2001, Karen was asked to assume the responsibility for the band library upon the retirement of long-time librarian Jim Knox. She also serves as the trombone section’s Section Leader, Recording Secretary for the Board of Directors, maintains the band's extensive mailing list and compiles the band schedules for the public and the members. Karen's latest task has been the upkeep of the band's website.
In February of 2005, Karen and trumpet section leader/band leader Rick Sharp were married.
