PRESIDENT
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Sarah started her musical career at Bush Middle School which connected to the famous ‘Ronald Reagan High School’. Since 7th grade, she always wanted to be in the official Ronald Reagan Marching Band and in 2005, (being the only freshman in the front ensemble AND on marimba) the band took 2nd place at Bands of America, Grand Nationals in Indianapolis.
Since 2007, Sarah has participated in many prestigious Summer Music Festivals: Juilliard Percussion Seminar, Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar, University of Texas Honors Ensemble, Eastern Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival, Texas Music Festival and The Ohio Light Opera (four seasons). In San Antonio, she established herself as an avid freelancer and percussion specialist. Sarah has played with the following orchestras and theaters: The San Antonio Symphony, The Mid-Texas Symphony, The Abilene Philharmonic, Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale, The Woodlawn Theatre, The Public Theater of San Antonio, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, San Antonio Viva and The United States Air Force at Lackland AFB.When Sarah moved to NYC in 2019, she performed with the Main Street Theatre and Dance Company and J2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company.
Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from The Florida State University where she studied with Dr. John W. Parks IV. While at FSU, Sarah participated in the percussion ensemble and studio, which won the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition in 2011 and in 2012, Sarah also participated and won first prize at the PAS Orchestral Mock Audition. She performed with many of the school’s ensembles such as the University Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. After graduating Cum Laude, Sarah went on to receive her Master of Music degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music where she had the privilege of studying with Michael Burritt, John Beck, Bill Cahn, Chip Ross, Lee Vinson, Jake Nissly, and Leigh Howard Stevens. While studying at Eastman, Sarah received the Performance Certificate Award, which is given to students with the highest level of performing ability. The Eastman Percussion Ensemble, which includes upperclassmen and graduate students, performed at PASIC in 2013 as a winner of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition. As an educator, Sarah had been a private lesson instructor for 8 years. She was previously the Adjunct Percussion Instructor at Trinity University and Associate Director of Percussive Studies at Brennan High School.
Sarah is now a Financial Services Professional with The New York Life Insurance Company and NYLife Securities LLC, helping individuals, young families and small business owners with the protection, growth and distribution of their wealth in the form of retirement strategies, life insurance and investments. She continues her musical passion every Sunday afternoon by playing with the County Line Community Band under the direction of Toby Knight. Sarah was recently featured on xylophone this past fall, performing The Golden Age of the Xylophone.