Sharmi Anne Harper, 71, from New York City and formerly of Minot, ND, passed away on August 21, 2024 after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Sharmi was born on July 15, 1953 in Riverdale, ND. She was the only child of Harry and Stella (Daleness) Harper. Sharmi attended school in Minot and graduated from Minot High in 1971.
When Sharmi was barely a teenager her father, and her uncle Cliff acquired property at Lake Metigoshe, ND. Over many summers, the two families enjoyed the beauty and blessings of lake life with family and friends. Sharmi continued coming back to the lake every summer for most of her adult life. It was one of her “loves”.
Following High School, Sharmi attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota, earning a degree in Music Performance. She continued her education at the University of Iowa, earning her Bachelor’s in Violin Performance. While majoring in violin, Sharmi performed her first role as Clarissa, a mezzo soprano in “L’amour des trois oranges” (The Love for Three Oranges) by Carlo Gozzi & Sergei Prokofiev.
Sharmi spent time traveling in Europe with her voice teacher, Kathryn Harvey, from the University of Iowa. She then attended The Juilliard School in Manhattan’s Lincoln Center, receiving her Master’s in Voice Performance (class of 1980). Sharmi blossomed with singing, classical music, and through living in the City of New York. Sharmi was blessed to share her love of music and opera with her mother, who championed Sharmi’s interest in music throughout her life.
Traveling to Italy, speaking Italian fluently, and teaching the language to others became a great “love” of Sharmi’s as well as cooking Italian food!
Sharmi also became a “rescue” dog owner. They were also some of Sharmi’s great “loves” who were always by her side.
Jewelry was also one of Sharmi’s great “loves”. She was a very “classy” lady, a natural when it came to wearing it herself, and had an amazing ability to know what looked good on others. Over the years, many anxiously awaited her visits when she would bring her jewelry with her.
After years of working and traveling, Sharmi embraced her next calling. She became an Italian and voice teacher at Nyack College in New York, from 2005 to 2019. During the summers, she would return to North Dakota and teach at the International Music Camp at the Peace Gardens. She received a 30-year teaching award from IMC.
Sharmi gave her whole heart to her students. She loved being a teacher, mentor, and friend to those who shared her love of music. People knew Sharmi for her knowledge of vocal technique, her wealth of wisdom, and her empathic, generous approach to her beloved students and her vocation.
Sharmi will be greatly missed by all who knew her and called her friend!
Sharmi is leaving behind her mother, Stella Harper, an uncle, Marvin Harper, cousins, other relatives and many, many former students and loving friends.
Her father, Harry Harper, precedes Sharmi in death.
A memorial service for Sharmi will be held in her ‘love’ New York, which was her home for the last 40 some years.
Gifts in honor of Sharmi can be given as you think best honors her memory.
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