Background, professional training and performance history
Clarinetist Sara Truelove has performed all around Oregon, most notable her work with the American Metropole Orchestra working with artists such as the Mel Brown Trio and Allen Toussaint. She has also been a member of numerous chamber ensembles and community bands in the Willamette Valley such as the Eugene Symphonic Band while being prolific pit orchestra performer with theaters around the Willamette Valley in productions such as Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music and West Side Story. As a soloist, Sara has been featured as a Western Oregon University Concerto Competition winner twice and an Honors Recital winner three times. In 2010 she was featured as a Guest Solo Artist with the Western Oregon University Symphony performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. In addition to her solo work she has been recorded on three albums and was the session producer for a classical flute recording with colleague Erica Hall.
Sara served as a teaching assistant at Western Oregon University, tutoring in beginning theory and being a substitute lecturer for the Music History sequence. In addition to her work at the university she began volunteering in the Albany school district starting middle school students on clarinet and saxophone. From there she started her own private lessons studio and has been invited to be an instructor at the Lewis and Clark Clarinet Day on numerous occasions. Sara graduated summa cum laude from Western Oregon University in 2009 with a Bachelors of Music and also in 2011 with a Masters of Music in Clarinet Performance. Currently, Sara is continuing her work volunteering in Eugene/Springfield area middle schools as well as her ethnomusicological research in Klezmer and Middle Eastern Music.
Artist statement and teaching philosophy
“My goal is to instill a love of making music into my students while providing them with a strong fundamental foundation. While learning the fundamentals I encourage students to bring in music that they want to play, whether it be classical standards or Disney songs. It is important to keep the curiosity for music alive especially when learning new techniques. I try to provide a creative atmosphere in lessons by encouraging the student to examine his or her own playing to hone critical listening skills. Learning music needs to be about expanding the mind and honing a love for music and music making.”
Instruments & classes taught
Sara teaches Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Saxophone and music theory.