Sarah Elizabeth Lee received an Artist Diploma at the University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in April 2014, where she studied with William Winstead (Principal Bassoon of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra). She received a Master of Music from CCM, and a Bachelor of Music studying with Keith Sweger at Ball State University (president of the International Double Reed Society). She also spent two summers studying with Nancy Goeres (principal bassoon of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) at the Aspen Music Festival.

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While Sarah has performed with many professional symphony orchestras, holding the current second bassoon position with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and the current principal bassoon position with the Erie Chamber Orchestra, education is a priority in all she does. She has been involved in numerous educational outreach programs for classical music in the public schools throughout her studies. In her most recent venture, she founded and directed an after-school music outreach program called the Whiz Kids Music Program, an opportunity for CCM students to lead weekly after-school classes for low-income, high-risk elementary students. The program is currently at 12 Cincinnati Public Schools, reaching over 150 students weekly. Since coming to Erie, Sarah has become a Teaching Artist with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and leads a yearly outreach program that partners with the Erie Philharmonic and PNC’s Grow Up Great grant program to reach underserved early education centers in downtown Erie. She also has taught privately for almost ten years, from young beginning students to studying bassoonists at the collegiate level.

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Sarah is originally from Wichita, Kansas and was taught to love arts and culture from an early age under the influence of her music-loving family. She is excited to join the Coda Mountain Academy Summer Music Festival for the first time this upcoming year!