Cantor Sharon Hordes received a bachelor of fine arts in music (for vocal performance) from the Indiana University School of Music. During her studies there, she sang in both the opera chorus and chamber opera, performed two recitals, and was a semi-finalist in several regional vocal competitions. Following graduation, she spent a year at the Bureau of Jewish Education in Indianapolis, preparing children for b'ney mitzvah.

Hordes received a master of arts in Jewish music as well as cantorial investiture through a joint program established by RRC and Gratz College in Melrose Park, PA.  In June 2002, she became the first cantor to be invested through this joint program.

For the past three years, she has been serving as the full-time cantor at JRF Congregation Ramat Shalom in Plantation, FL. While living in South Florida, Hordes has sung in an annual fundraising concert at B'nai Aviv of Weston, an egalitarian Conservative congregation. She recently sang the role of Orpa in a production of "Your People are Mine," a modern musical adaptation of The Book of Ruth.

She is an active member of the Women Cantor's Network, Greater Hollywood Interfaith Council, and the women's division of Jews, Muslims and All—an interfaith dialogue group that was formed following 9/11.