Biography

Originally from St Louis, Sarah grew up in a musical family. In her early years she was particularly influenced by listening to her mom play string quartets with friends and perform with the St Louis Philharmonic as associate concertmaster. After earning a B.A. in history from Covenant College, Sarah attended the Hartt School of music in Hartford CT, where she earned a M.M. in violin performance with an emphasis in Suzuki pedagogy, studying with Katie Lansdale and Teri Einfeldt.

Sarah’s orchestral experience includes the performing with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, and serving as principal Second violin with the New Hampshire Philharmonic, as well as performing with other regional orchestras in New England and the Southeast.

She is also a passionate chamber musician, a 4-time winner in the “best of chamber music” competition at the Hartt School. She has performed with the New Hampshire Philharmonic principal string quartet, the Aliento Chamber series, and the International Musical Arts Institute festival series. In recent years she has particularly enjoyed premiering newly composed works with the Con Brio Ensemble in the Chattanooga area, and collaborating with other faculty on recitals at Lee University and Covenant College. Before moving to Knoxville Sarah held a position with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, and taught part time at Lee University and Covenant College near Chattanooga TN, as well as maintaining a private teaching studio.

Sarah is married to Jeff, who teaches at UT, and has a 1 1/2 year-old daughter, Zoe, a baby boy on the way and is the proud owner of Ava, a Golden Retriever rescue. In addition to music, some of Sarah’s favorite things include hiking, biking, reading, and good coffee.