Sharon Felts Ward Cooper retired after more than 40 years of teaching vocal and choral music in Arkansas, concluding her career as adjunct director of the Arkansas State University Male and Female Choirs during the 2011–2012 academic year.
Mrs. Cooper was inspired by the following choral directors: Mary Venda O’Connor and Robert Fuller at Jonesboro High School and Alfred Skoog at Arkansas State University. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Arkansas State University in 1970 and a Master of Music Education in 1974. She also completed additional choral music studies at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. As an undergraduate, she completed her internship with Don Davis at Bald Knob. Having long admired the Bald Knob choirs, she specifically sought the opportunity to learn from him. To gain the best possible experience, she rented an apartment in Bald Knob during the week and returned home to Jonesboro on weekends. Davis’ mentorship and example helped shape her career as a music educator.
Mrs. Cooper began teaching part-time at Weiner in 1970. The first year the choir was all girls, so she told the girls that they needed to get some boys for their choir. Being the “persuasive girls” that they were, they did just that, and the Weiner Mixed Ensemble formed the following year. They entered the NEA Region Festival and qualified for the Arkansas State Festival where they received Superior ratings.
In 1972, Mrs. Cooper accepted a full-time position at Bay, where she taught for 15 years before joining the faculty at Valley View in 1987. Throughout her distinguished career in small-school music education, her choirs consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings at Region and State Festivals (now Choral Performance Assessment, or CPA), and her students were regularly selected for the NEA All-Region and Arkansas All-State Choirs. In 1991, the Valley View Concert Choir was one of 8 choirs selected, and the only choir from Arkansas, to perform in Carnegie Hall under the direction of renowned conductor John Rutter.
A significant part of her career was her service to the Arkansas Choral Directors Association (ArkCDA), where she served on the board of directors as treasurer for more than 30 years. She didn’t have a background in finance, but she knew how to balance a checkbook and thought, “This is just a bigger checkbook.” She was also an advocate for small-school music programs throughout her tenure on the board.
Mrs. Cooper’s years in choral music education were immensely rewarding. In retirement, she continues to sing in her church choir and also the Jonesboro Chorale, directed by Dr. Ryan Sullivan, Director of Choral Activities at Arkansas State University. She enjoys spending time with family and watching her children and grandchildren continue her love of music and performance. Her legacy lives on through her family and former students.
Teaching Positions
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Weiner High School (1970–1972)
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Bay High School (1972–1987)
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Valley View High School (1987–2011)
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Arkansas State University (2011–2012)
Honors and Service
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Member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for Women at Arkansas State University and the Jonesboro Alumni Chapter
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1985 Arkansas Choral Directors Association Junior High Director of the Year
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1991: Valley View Concert Choir selected as the only Arkansas choir to perform in Carnegie Hall under renowned conductor John Rutter
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2000: Director of the Northeast Arkansas Junior High Region Treble Choir
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2005–2006: National Federation of State High School Associations Outstanding Music Educator Award
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2006: Recognized for 30 years of service as ArkCDA treasurer
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Vocal and choral adjudicator in Arkansas and Missouri
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Director at Arkansas Choral Connection summer choir camps
