Sarah

Flutist Sarah Brady is Radius Ensemble’s newest member. On November 15, she will be featured on two pieces, Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas Brasiliaras No. 6 for flute and bassoon, and Radius’s fifth world premiere commission, Tone Grafting for flute and strings by Jonathan Bailey Holland, the Ensemble’s 2008-2009 composer in residence. She praises her friend Jonathan Holland for writing “beautiful music” that is “new but accessible.” Sarah had a significant part in the piece’s composition, demonstrating for Holland the timbres and techniques of the flute, alto flute, and piccolo. She is modest about her role though, saying that she just provided a “box of crayon colors.”


Sarah didn’t start off playing the flute. In the fourth grade, she played viola because it was “so easy.” Later on in band class, she chose the flute to avoid brass. By middle school, Sarah knew 
she would be making music for a long time. In her undergraduate years she double-majored in flute and voice. While she never finished her voice degree, she “lives vicariously” through singers from the orchestra pit of the Opera Boston. 

A large percentage of Sarah’s impressive career has been spent playing contemporary music in ensembles such as Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) and several others. She says that Radius, with whom she’s appeared several times in the past, gives her the opportunity to play a more diverse repertoire of music that spans more time periods, as well as a connection with old colleagues like pianist Sarah Bob.

What’s on Sarah’s ipod? She says rock, jazz, alternative and folk music, are all good to listen to while running; she does not listen to much classical music in her free time, finding it overwhelming to listen to casually. Instead, she recharges her intellectual battery with groups such as Vampire Weekend, Muse, Radiohead, and a Mexican guitar duo called Rodrigo y Gabriela.


Meet Sarah on November 15!