Sarah is a 2024 Member of the Year Award recipient from the Toronto Musicians' Association local 149, a violinist of the JUNO-nominated Cryptid Ensemble (Classical Album of the Year), a founding member of the Madawaska String Quartet established in 2001, and a principal violinist for the CONTAQT New Music Ensemble. Her groups have collaborated with sopranos Adrianne Pieczonka and Measha Brueggergosman, Quatuor Bozzini, James Campbell, and pianist Jan Lisiecki and have appeared in Festival of the Sound, Guelph Music Fest, Elora Festival, Open Ears Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Toronto Symphony’s New Creations, K-W Chamber Music Society, and 21C at Koerner Hall.
Her international appearances include Festival Ibero Americano (Puerto Rico), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Huddersfield New Music Festival (UK), Bang on a Can (New York), Museum of Modern Art, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Centre (EMPAC), Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art (MassMoCA) LOUD weekend. Ecstatic Music Festival at Columbia University (New York), and has collaborated on numerous recordings, including the Juno-winning classical composition of the year Bestiary I & II by Bekah Simms and the Canadian Screen Music Award winner of David Attenborough documentary.
Madawaska Quartet has premiered over 30 works and presented workshops for composers at the University of Toronto, York University, Music Gallery, Array New Music Centre, Canadian Music Centre, Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop, and Guild of Canadian Film Composers.
Sarah received her formative musical training in Japan. Studying under the founding member of the internationally acclaimed Tokyo String Quartet Koichiro Harada, she earned a Bachelor’s in Music Performance from the prestigious Toho Gakuen Music School in Tokyo. She moved to Toronto to continue her studies with the late Lorand Fenyves. She attained a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto and an Artist Diploma from The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory. Upon graduation, Sarah joined The Royal Conservatory violin faculty. Her students have been accepted into the Interlochen Centre for the Arts Summer Music Program (U.S.), Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, University of Toronto Music Performance, Wilfrid Laurier University and York University. Her students also participate in all Royal Conservatory Certificate Program levels, completing examinations, including gold and silver medal winners. Sarah also coaches chamber music at The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists and was a chamber coach for the University of Toronto Scarborough, Kinkardine and Port Milford summer schools. She joined The Royal Conservatory's College of Examiners in 2021.
As a freelancer, she has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada, Tapestry New Opera, Arraymusic, Soundstreams Canada, Esprit Orchestra, and various stage musical productions. She has shared the stage with Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Rod Stewart, Cowboy Junkies, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Slean, Chilly Gonzales and Seal. She has also appeared in music videos for K-OS and Blue Rodeo.