Grandaughter of an Epiphone-playin-travelin-evangelist, fathered by a National Accordion Champion & mothered by a pianist, Shara Worden was born into a house of diverse musical aesthetics. Minor Spanish tango, Sundee mornin' gospel, classical & jazz were always in the air. Her first song was written at age 3 using the buttons of a toy cash register for "piano keys." By age 8 she was studying piano with her uncle Donald Ryan & singing in community musical productions.
Shara later graduated from The University of North Texas with a BA in Vocal Performance. Her operatic teachers have included Elaine Bonazzi, Laurel Miller, Paula Homer & Virginia Botkin. Shara currently studies voice the fantabulous Josephine Mongiardo! Shara has studied composition with Paul Bonneau & Australian composer/performer Padma Newsome (The Clogs). In 2003 Shara was a member of the Manhattan Choral Ensemble. Singing the legendary Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schoenberg, Shara performed with a fantastic group of musicians at the Milbank Chapel in 2004! In 2006 her classical endeavors include a string quartet concert combining works of Purcell, Debussy and My Brightest Diamond songs.
As a composer Shara often falls in the netherworld between pop & classical music. Packaging her melodies with musical twists & strange noises from a distant guitar or violin, she gives us something to hold onto as she leans against our comfort walls. With a list of influences ranging from Prince to 20th Century composer Pierre Boulez, Shara continues to explore the networking possibilities between the dueling idioms.
In 2002 Shara completed her first scores for musical theatre Women with Voices Ringing (Jaki Brown Karmen), short film Municipal Parkn& Adam Rapp's play Trueblinka(Simon Hammerstein). Shara began 2003 with Hammerstein's production of Morts sans Sepulture. Shara composed music for the short film "Price" directed by Thomas Torrey in 2005.
.........Shara was the visionary, songwriter & voice for the crepuscular NY pop group AwRY. The group toured throughout the United States, Russia and England in support of their two albums (The Orange Album, Quiet B Sides) which showcased their modal melodies & tinkering with quiet noise.
In 2002 Shara began to study string arranging with Australian composer Padma Newsome [Clogs] to explore the relationship between drums and stringed instruments. Following two years of study Worden posted an ad on a New York Community board -- "String Players Wanted: If you like Pierre Boulez as much as PJ Harvey, call me!"
A motley cast of characters responded and My Brightest Diamond emerged as a sound with a list of influences that includes as many classical composers as pop icons. The sonic result falls in that chamber-indie netherworld that sometimes sounds like Kate Bush chasing Henry Mancini through the schoolyard or, at other times, like Edith Piaf sipping tea with Prince. Violinist Rob Moose (Antony & The Johnsons) joined up with Shara to head the string section which includes violist Marla Hansen and cellist Maria Jeffers.
Over the course of the next few years, recordings were made in both LA and New York. Shara took breaks from recording to tour with MBD and with Sufjan Stevens. The first tee shirts were printed. Bring Me the Workhorse was released August 22nd of 2006 and work still is being done on the string heavy A Thousand Shark's Teeth which is set tentatively for a fall release. Other future releases will be announced shortly, but we can whisper to you the word "DJ" as a hint for 2007.
2001. AwRY. Quiet B Sides
2001. AwRY. The Orange Album
1998. Shara. Session I. EP
1997. Shara. Word
2005 Cameo on Sufjan Stevens' Illinois
2003 Cameo on Denison Witmer's Are You A Dreamer
2004 Cameo on Onelinedrawing album The Volunteers.
2003 Cameo on Sufjan Stevens' Christmas EP
2003 Cameo with Bogs Visionary Orchestra
2002 Cameo on Jon Rodgers' album The Sound of Birds
1997 Cameo with Mingo Fishtrap Succotash