Faculty

Praised for her passionate and insightful interpretations, Sharon Lavery is known for connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Since 2007 she has been music director of the Downey Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble hailed as one of the best metropolitan orchestras in Southern California. Ms. Lavery has appeared as guest conductor with numerous orchestras, including the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Vermont Symphony, Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, and La Jolla Symphony, just to name a few. For several years she held the post of cover conductor for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and she has also served as cover conductor for the San Diego Symphony. She has been the assistant conductor of the Pasadena Symphony, the associate conductor of the Herbert Zipper Orchestra of Los Angeles, and has also served as music director of the MUSE International Music Day Festival in Chiba, Japan. In addition, Lavery has made recordings at Warner Bros studio in Burbank, CA, and with Delos Records, Inc.

In conjunction with her professional duties, Ms. Lavery serves as Resident Conductor of the Thornton Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble at the USC Thornton School of Music. She has led USC’s ensembles in concert on countless occasions, and served as music director of the Thornton Concert Orchestra for seven years. In addition to these duties at USC, Lavery teaches instrumental conducting and is Chair of the Winds and Percussion Department.

Ms. Lavery is also known as an advocate for music education. She has conducted several All-State orchestras and wind ensembles throughout the United States, and she has served on the conducting faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp and the International Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall.

Hailing from Ossining, New York, Lavery received her Bachelor of Music Education from Michigan State University, and Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.  She also earned a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from USC Thornton where she was awarded the Leonard Bernstein Memorial Scholarship.