Bio
Sarah Parker is a composer, saxophonist, and improviser whose music contemplates patient stillness and explosive chaos. Described as “imaginative” and “nicely out of the box,” her conceptual writing explores themes of nature, memory, translations of research into musical material, and the analysis and manipulation of real-life sonic phenomena. She has composed for wind ensemble, orchestra, string quartet, and numerous contemporary chamber ensembles. Her music has been performed by airborne extended, Rebekah Heller and Dan Lippel of International Contemporary Ensemble, SPLICE, Sound Icon, the New Composer’s String Quartet, Wieldflower Arts, the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra, and the Berklee Symphonic Winds.
Photo by Britt Olsen-Ecker
Her recent work The Alpha’s Guide to Getting Lekky transforms mating calls of the Greater Sage Grouse (as heard during a lek, or courtship ritual) into a wobbly sheet-metal filled ode to, or perhaps critique of, the sounds and social dynamics of attraction, complete with a mating arena in which performers compete for alpha status. Composed for airborne extended (flute, alto/Paetzold recorders, harp, harpsichord) this piece is part of Sarah’s explorations translating research and real-world sonic phenomena into musical material.
Her approach to the saxophone is fueled by a sense of experimentation and a passion for ultra-gritty multiphonics. She is drawn to augmenting the saxophone with tubes, custom mouthpieces, percussive preparations, effects pedals, and other electronics to create a captivating and unique sound world. She has over a decade of experience performing in wind ensembles, marching bands, and chamber groups, and regularly performs new works by living composers. Sarah performs regularly in improv trio Sophie Rollover with Michael Begay (guitar) and Forrest Wentzel (electronics) and as a member of Wieldflower Arts.
Sarah is pursuing her M.M. in Composition at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where she studies with composer Sky Macklay. Sarah earned a B.M. in Composition from the Berklee College of Music, where she studied with Marti Epstein and Nomi Epstein. While at Berklee, Sarah was awarded the Amy Beach Composition Award.
She is also a former competitive dog show handler, embroidery/fiber artist, self-proclaimed bad meditator, avid meanderer, kayaker, vegan-food enjoyer, and nature enthusiast. She is based in Baltimore, MD.
