Shari Ulrich is an award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and celebrated educator whose career spans over five decades, 26 albums, multiple JUNO Awards, and an enduring place in the Canadian folk and roots music landscape.

Born in California and shaped by the creative spirit of the 60s, Shari found her voice early and followed it fearlessly—from early theatre work and cross-country travels to acclaimed collaborations with The Pied Pumkin, UHF, BTU, The Hometown Band, and The High Bar Gang. A gifted songwriter known for her honesty, emotional depth, and storytelling, Shari’s solo career remains at the heart of her artistry, supported by her mastery of violin, guitar, piano, dulcimer, and mandolin.

Alongside extensive touring and recording, she has taught songwriting at Humber College, University of British Columbia, and the VSO School of Music, sharing her hard-won wisdom with writers of all levels. Deeply grateful for a life dedicated to music, Shari continues to create, perform, and inspire with an open heart—and we were delighted to welcome her as the leader of our December songwriting workshop.

Shari joined Talent Is Timeless in 2023 and placed in both the Canada (Folk) and Folk categories in the 2025 annual contest with her poignant song The Sweater.

As Shari puts it plainly, “Oh, there is always a story.” The Sweater is shaped by the quiet, devastating presence of dementia — something she notes is “woven through all of our lives with friends and loved ones.” The song doesn’t reach for drama; instead, it sits with the everyday intimacy of loss, memory, and recognition slowly slipping away. It’s that emotional restraint, and deep humanity, that makes the song resonate so strongly.

Shari didn’t come to songwriting casually. She began her career performing in bands as a musician and singer, but something always felt off. “I realized I wasn’t comfortable singing other people’s lyrics,” she explains. “They didn’t fit me.” That discomfort became a turning point. “I needed to go solo and be cornered into — okay, NOW is the time to become a songwriter!”

That instinct proved right early on. One of her first songs became a successful single for the band she was in at the time. “I felt like — I knew it! I knew I should be writing my own songs!” she recalls. From there, songwriting became not just a skill, but a calling she trusted.

Like many writers, Shari still grapples with resistance — not self-doubt, but procrastination. “Oh, I am a terrible procrastinator when it comes to writing,” she admits with a laugh. “I actually wrote a song about it!” (“Busy”) Deadlines and creative retreats help. “I either need a deadline or to be away from home and sequestered where I can’t putter.”

Over the years, her work has earned deep recognition, including Junos (The Canadian Grammies), and being named Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards — a milestone that speaks not just to craft, but to longevity and integrity. Still, when she learned she’d placed in the Talent Is Timeless annual contest, the feeling was immediate and personal. “This was so affirming!!” she says.

What Shari values most about Talent Is Timeless is the tone. “I love the supportive atmosphere of TITA,” she shares — a community where encouragement doesn’t dilute honesty, and experience is treated as an asset, not a limitation.

Asked what advice she’d give to songwriters over 50, Shari doesn’t hesitate: “Be yourself. It’s your superpower.”

Her journey is a reminder that songwriting isn’t about chasing relevance or reinventing yourself for the moment. It’s about leaning further into who you already are.

You can listen to Shari’s winning song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZp5BMODwTM