Ronald Sharp

Ronald Sharp (b.1929) is an organ builder based in Sydney, Australia.

He specialises in mechanical, tracker action instruments, and was responsible for re-introducing mechanical action to Australia. His tracker action baroque organs are particularly famous. Although sometimes criticised as having a unique and characteristic tonal design, rather than an authentic baroque tone, this tone has come to be much appreciated by some authorities and players.

Sharp was self-taught and has always been controversial.

His notable instruments include:

• Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, the largest mechanical action organ ever built, opened in 1979.
• Knox Grammar School chapel organ, a tracker action baroque organ, with 3 manuals, 31 speaking stops, 1 coupler, opened in 1965.
• Ormond College Organ, extended from his design in 1992 and no longer regarded as an authentic Sharp.
• Perth Concert Hall organ, opened in 1973, electric and electronic action, 3000 pipes.
• St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, organ in the triforium above the chancel intended as a two manual sixteen stop choir organ but never completed. Construction began in 1959 and was discontinued in 1971 with only one 16' pedal stop and two 8' manual stops installed.
• A small practice organ in the home of Norman Johnston, notable as the first of Sharp's mechanical action organs, 1964.