Sharon Northe was born in San Antonio Texas, raised in Wenatchee Washington, and graduated magna cum laude from Lewis and Clark College with a Bachelor of Science in Music and a Masters of Arts in Music Education. She was a band director in the Parkrose School District for 30 years and retired in 1997 after enjoying many years of award winning ensembles. 

She is a flutist and section leader in the Oregon Symphonic Band, has performed with the American Flute Orchestra in Spain, Germany, Austria, Washington D.C. and Atlanta Georgia and played in Denver and Columbus Ohio with the Colorado Flute Orchestra. She plays and occasionally conducts in the Portland State Flute Ensemble and the Rose City Flute Choir, runs the Northwinds Flute Trio and plays in the Trio Vivo with Hillsboro Symphony members Morgan Brown and Nancy Vink. 

Sharon teaches flute privately and at the Young Musicians and Artists summer music camp at Willamette University in Salem Oregon. She is on the board of the Greater Portland Flute Society, writes a column for their monthly newsletter and is a respected judge for many solo and ensemble contests. 

In her spare time, Sharon enjoys traveling, the Middle Sisters book club, watching the Portland Winterhawks and following her husband John's career as a professional trombonist. 

Sharon has immensely enjoyed working with the Hillsboro Symphony musicians and is looking forward to the musical opportunities this season brings.

ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR

Dr. Mark Perlman has been the Associate Conductor of the Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra since 2003. Dr. Perlman's educational background, technical expertise, and performance experience in both classical music and jazz have enabled him to bring a broad range of qualifications to conducting. His passion combined with his commitment to sharing music with his community are qualities you can see not only when he works with the Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra, but also with the Willamette Falls Symphony where Dr. Perlman is the Music Director and Conductor.