Daily Inspiration: Meet Martha Sharpe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Sharpe.

Hi Martha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m an Arizona native and that may be a bit of an understatement. My ancestors (paternal and maternal) have lived in Arizona since the late 1800s. I’m the eldest of 7 kids. I have three sisters and three brothers. As kids we all had to take piano lessons and we all played another instrument as well. I started to learn the piano at age 4. When I was 10 I started to learn the Horn and when I was 16 I switched from piano to pipe organ. Music was a big part of my life. Honor bands; youth orchestras; marching band; etc.

My initial career choice didn’t include music, however, during my senior year of high school I was nominated, auditioned for, and made 1st chair in the McDonald’s All-American High School Marching Band. It was during that trip, while auditioning for elite music schools, that I realized where my true passion lay. I wanted to be a musician. I did my undergraduate and master’s degrees at Rice University, at the Shepherd School of Music, in Houston, TX.

After completing my degrees I moved to Seville, Spain to play in the symphony orchestra there. After two years, I moved home to get married and start a family. My husband and I have five kids and four grandchildren (who affectionately call my Horn the Toot-toot). Currently, I play in several local symphony orchestras / groups and freelance around the Phoenix valley and the Southwest.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest decision I faced was to leave Spain and my job there to move back to AZ to get married. The biggest challenge I faced was juggling my family and horn playing obligations. I turned down work quite often so that I could stay home with the kids. Once our youngest was about 12, and everyone was relatively self sufficient, I was able to accept work more often when offers came my way. Another challenge while raising five kids was finding personal time for daily practice. I have a great picture of our youngest asleep, in her pajamas, lying under my chair while I’m practicing. It wasn’t always glamorous, but it we made it work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do I do? Well, professionally, I’m a Horn player around the greater Valley of the Sun. I play for several groups in the valley and fill out my schedule with freelance work. I also do some freelance work in NM, UT, and ID. Personally, I’m a wife, mother of 5, and grandmother of 4. My life is pretty much encapsulated into those two things. My family has always been super supportive of my career and they love to come hear me play. My family are my biggest cheerleaders and supporters. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been able to devote equal time and energy to my family and my career. There are times when I have to say no to a gig to be able to focus on my family. And the reverse is also true. If it’s a performance that’s important to me, my family allows me the space to give it my full attention so that I can provide a quality product to the people who’ve hired me. I’m pretty easy to get along with and strive to be a good leader in my workspaces. However, the word that is often used to describe me is “intimidating”. When I contemplate that I think it is my dedication to my craft, and the countless hours spent practicing that intimidates people. At least that’s what I tell myself.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I was born and raised in Arizona, so what’s not to love. We have a beautiful state. I love the heat. I’ve always had a great intolerance to cold and have never lived anywhere with true cold (born in AZ, college in Houston, TX, and a couple of years in Spain). Hot all the way around. My family says I’m a reptile. I’m not warm unless I’m in the sun. Several years ago I took up rowing / sculling with a group of friends and I love that we can do this all year round.

I’m pretty simple. There’s not much I don’t like. But if I had to choose, it would be the weeds after a good rainstorm. There’s nothing like a rainstorm in the desert. But the weeds that come after, no thanks.

Image Credits
All images property of Martha Sharpe