Sarah, Lead Violin

Sarah is originally from Tennessee, where she began playing the violin at age 12 and was playing professionally two years later. She studied formally at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and the University of Tennessee, and additionally has performed in masterclasses for noted violinists Anne Akiko Meyers, Jasper Wood, and William Fitzpatrick. She is a current member of the Symphony of the Mountains and the Johnson City Symphony in Tennessee, the Hendersonville Symphony and the Brevard Philharmonic in North Carolina, and the Spartanburg Philharmonic in South Carolina, and she has also performed previously with the Asheville Symphony (NC), the Western Piedmont Symphony (NC), the Oak Ridge Symphony (TN), and Symphony Orchestra Augusta (GA). Occasionally she can also be found performing with the 4 Seasons Chamber Orchestra in Hendersonville (NC) and the Jubilee Summer Orchestra in Asheville.

In addition to her classical accomplishments, Sarah spent many years as an active performer in the non-classical music world. Primarily she was a founding member and violinist/violist/vocalist/percussionist/flautist with the Knoxville-based orchestral electro-pop band Shortwave Society, and later appeared on the last two albums (Starfruit and Excavator) of the beloved Asheville-based band stephaniesid, with whom she was honored to perform at their final show at the Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville. Her association with these two bands (and others) led to notable festival performances at South by Southwest, CMJ Music Marathon in NYC, Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Sled Island Music Festival in Canada, ArtsMarket in Durham, Floydfest in Virginia, MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, and RiverFest in Chattanooga, among others.

Sarah has extensive recording experience, including three albums with Shortwave Society, two albums with stephaniesid, an EP with Brent Thompson & the Wandering Circus (as vocalist), and an album as student concertmaster of an orchestra appearing on the Naxos album Louis Marie Gottschalk: Complete Orchestral Works. When she’s not on the road, Sarah can be found working in the office as the newest member of the Symphony of the Mountains staff.