Hi! I’m Sarah!

I’m a violinist, speaker, teacher, artistic director, Career Coach for High-Achieving Musicians, espresso junkie and 6 feet tall.

I could have never predicted my multi-faceted career path, but that’s my favorite thing about how it has all unfolded. It’s been a wild and fulfilling adventure and I believe that a multi-faceted, entrepreneurial career is truly ideal in today’s music world. Curiosity and learning drive me, and when I’m not performing, teaching, or coaching, you might find me exploring Boston on my bike, at a painting class, or geeking out about my latest self-development book.

Why do I do what I do?

I want to change the music world as it is today. I have a vision for every musician to wake up excited about what’s on their schedule and have their days filled with meaningful and fulfilling work. Let’s dissolve the overworked, underpaid musician mentality because you don’t have to work yourself into the ground to be successful!

Below you will find my professional bio as well as my story about what led me to become a Career Coach for Musicians.

Biography

Praised by the Washington Post for her “marvelous violin acrobatics”, violinist Sarah Whitney is celebrated for her musical versatility and fierce innovation in the classical music world. She is recognized as a successful performer, teacher, speaker, and Career Coach for Musicians. Sarah has appeared on stages worldwide as a soloist and collaborative artist throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa and is fiercely dedicated to bringing fresh new ideas to classical music and empowering musicians to thrive.

In 2015, Sarah founded Beyond the Notes, an innovative concert series that breaks down the boundaries between the audience and the performers. Entering its ninth season of successful concerts, Beyond the Notes presents concerts around the country in partnership with performing organizations as well as concerts in the greater Boston area. During the pandemic, Sarah created Beyond the Notes Minis which are COVID-friendly concerts presented virtually or outdoors that highlight the works of Black composers and raise money for social justice.

As a former founding member and violinist of the NYC-based string quintet SYBARITE5, Sarah performed over 1000 concerts around the world, including world premiers by Dan Visconti, Andy Akiho, Michael Gilbertson, Kenji Bunch, Daniel Bernard Romain, among others. SYBARITE5, who had three albums reach the top ten on the Billboard Charts, was the first string quintet to win the Concert Artists Guild Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Library of Congress, the Aspen, Caramoor, Chautauqua, Grand Teton and Ravinia Festivals. SYBARITE5 also premiered the first-ever Concerto for String Quintet & Orchestra with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Midland Symphony Orchestra, and Duluth-Superior Orchestra.

As a soloist, Sarah is currently touring a solo violin and loop pedal show which explores all of the unconventional ways a solo violin can be represented. She works closely with composers, including Jessica Meyer, and Jonathan Kolm, who are writing her pieces to expand the repertoire for this unique combination. She has also collaborated with the Alvin Ailey and Jose Limon dance companies, as well as featured on-stage with Adele, Ellie Goulding, the Transiberian Orchestra, NAS, Jeff Beck, Tommy Lee, Father John Misty. Active as a recording artist, Sarah has performed on albums with Darlene Love, Josh Ritter, Stephen Kellogg and can be heard on William Bolcom's Grammy-winning album ‘The Songs of Innocence and Experience’. She has performed electric-violin with DJ’s Doug E. Fresh and DJ Spooky, as well as opened for Jennifer Hudson and Diana Ross.

Passionate about helping musicians navigate the ever-changing music world, Sarah is a Career Coach for Musicians and helps busy, musician entrepreneurs create massive artistic fulfillment, joy and ease in their careers (without burning out). Sarah is currently on faculty at Longy School of Music and has given guest masterclasses and entrepreneur career workshops at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Rice University, University of Michigan, Oberlin Conservatory, among others. Her writing is regularly featured in STRINGS magazine and her widely-read blog The Productive Musician focuses on the strategies needed for musicians to thrive in today’s music world.

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Michigan School of Music, as well as a Master of Music and Professional Studies degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her teachers included Paul Kantor, William Preucil, Kathleen Winkler, Aaron Berofsky, Cyrus Forough, Stephen Shipps and Irina Muresanu.

Sarah performs on a violin made by J.B. Vuillaume in 1850.

Updated April 2024

Career Coaching for Musicians

The Story

Twelve years ago, a challenging hand injury nearly derailed my career. During my recovery, I discovered life-changing mindset tools that transformed my professional and personal life (many of which had nothing to do with my injury). Additionally, I also realized my knack for entrepreneurship, turning many ideas into a reality (including my touring ensemble, Sybarite5 and my concert series). Realizing many musicians lacked access to this knowledge, I felt compelled to share it.

When COVID-19 wiped out my income, I launched my coaching business to empower musicians with mindset strategies and business skills. This shift allowed me to leave the endless hustle of NYC, move to Boston, prioritize my relationships in a new and meaningful way, and craft my own balanced, spacious and fulfilling career.

The work I do as a coach is my pride and joy! I work with my clients on all the essential skills musicians need to thrive, including mindset, business strategy, finance, leadership, communication, non-icky promotion, PR & marketing, effortless productivity (yes you can!), and so much more.

Because you don’t have to drive yourself into the ground to be successful!

If you’re interested in learning more about my coaching services you can book a free no-strings-attached discovery call or visit my Coaching page for more information.