Sarah was the inaugural concertmaster for the Adelaide Youth Orchestras back in 2001. She fondly reminisces her time playing the compositions, Pines of Rome by Respighi and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture as part of her first concert performance, conducted by Marco Zuccarini.
“Playing the Pines of Rome for the first time was pretty cool I’d never heard Respighi before – it was unlike other composers I’d heard before.”
Alongside her participation with AdYO, she started studying at the Flinders Street School of Music (TAFE), and was then later offered the opportunity to study at the University of Adelaide. Sarah graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Honours). This reinforced her already well-rounded knowledge of music, which she attributed to her early ensemble work at the Adelaide Youth Orchestras.
“My time at AdYO was all part of the learning experience, helping me find my feet as a young freelancer. These were all great experiences, and I really enjoyed them. I tend now to focus on chamber music and small group playing, but nothing beats a big orchestra!”
She also worked as a casual with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for a decade from 2001-2011, during which time she was invited to go on tour, giving her a chance to make meaningful connections.
“I played casual and contract violin with ASO for a while before joining the SA public service in 2011. I had many excellent experiences with the ASO, including a tour to Malaysia in 2005.”
Sarah stays dedicated to leading the Aurora Strings, a quartet that she established herself. This quartet has accomplished a lot, and continues to reach new heights, having shared the stage with various famous artists, such as Michael Bublé, Olivia Newton-John, Il Divo, Usher, Idina Menzel, John Farnham, Kate Ceberano, and David Campbell. You can catch them regularly, performing around Adelaide.
Article by Annika Acosta
