Sarah Gartin

Sarah Jayne Gartin is a freelance percussionist and private lessons instructor in New York City specializing in new music, two and four-mallet literature, timpani literature, chamber music, operetta, multi-solo literature and more!

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Sarah’s passion for music theatre has led her to pursue a career in the Big Apple. She is currently performing with the J2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company in their inaugural season as the percussionist of ‘Seesaw’ at Theater Row. Some of her favorite regional shows have been ‘Into The Woods’, ‘The Music Man’, ‘Candide’ and ‘Anything Goes’. Sarah hopes to perform on Broadway one day soon.

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.

Since moving to NYC, she has 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 has been a private lesson instructor for the last seven years. She was previously the Adjunct Percussion Instructor at Trinity University and Associate Director of Percussive Studies at Brennan High School. When she is not freelancing and teaching, she likes to spend her time with her dog Emma, experimenting with her coffee bar, cooking, exercising, and enjoys a good TV show and film.

I specialize in classical percussion instruments. Services could include: Recording (mallets, accessory instruments, timpani, drum set, rudimental snare, etc), Performing (most classical percussion instruments, specializing in four mallet and new music chamber performance), Musical subbing (percussion books/combo books), Dance classes (hand drums) and more! The last gig I had was a summer lyric festival called The Ohio Light Opera where I played percussion/drums in 7 musicals/operettas.

Visit my website for video footage: sjgpercussion.com