Sarah is a violinist of the JUNO-nominated Cryptid Ensemble (Classical Album of the Year) and a founding member of the Madawaska String Quartet and Ensemble, established in 2001. She also became principal violinist of CONTACT Contemporary Music in 2002 and founded the Elmwood String Trio in 2018. Her groups have collaborated with sopranos Adrianne Pieczonka and Measha Brueggergosman, Quatuor Bozzini, clarinetist James Campbell, and pianist Jan Lisiecki and has appeared in Festival of the Sound, Guelph Music Fest, Elora Festival, Toronto International Chamber Music Festival, Open Ears Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Toronto Symphony’s New Creations, K-W Chamber Music Society, and 21C at Koerner Hall.
Her international appearances include Festival Ibero Americano (Puerto Rico), Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT), Huddersfield New Music Festival (UK), Bang on a Can (New York), Museum of Modern Art, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Centre (EMPAC), Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art (MassMoCA) LOUD weekend, and Ecstatic Music Festival at Columbia University (New York), and has collaborated in numerous recordings including the Juno-winning classical composition of the year Bestiary I & II by Bekah Simms and soundtrack for a film by Atom Egoyan.
Madawaska Quartet has premiered over 30 works and presented workshops for composers at University of Toronto, York University, Music Gallery, Array New Music Centre, Canadian Music Centre, Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop, and Guild of Canadian Film Composers.
Sarah received her formative musical training in Japan. Studying under the founding member of the internationally acclaimed Tokyo String Quartet Koichiro Harada, she earned Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the prestigious Toho Gakuen Music School in Tokyo. She moved to Toronto to continue her studies with the late Lorand Fenyves. She went on to attain a Master of Music in Performance from University of Toronto and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory. Upon graduation Sarah joined the Royal Conservatory violin faculty. Her students have been accepted into Interlochen Centre for the Arts Summer Music Program (U.S.), Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, University of Toronto Music performance, Wilfrid Laurier University and York University. Her students also participate in all levels of the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program, successfully completing examinations, including gold and silver medal winners. Sarah also coaches chamber music at The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists and was a chamber coach for University of Toronto Scarborough, Kinkardine and Port Milford summer schools. She joined the College of Examiners in 2021.
As a freelancer she has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada, Tapestry New Opera, Arraymusic, Soundstreams Canada, Esprit Orchestra, and various stage musical productions. She has shared the stage with Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Rod Stewart, Cowboy Junkies, Andrea Bocceli, Sarah Slean, Chilly Gonzales and Seal. She has also appeared in music videos of K-OS and Blue Rodeo.
Sarah was a collaborative pianist with the Rosedale Public School Choir, in addition to modeling and acting.
Sarah is a Juno-nominated chamber violinist: founding member of Madawaska Quartet, principal violinist with ContaQt New Music, and member of Cryptid Ensemble.
Recordings
Founded in 2001 and hailed for their “astonishing talent” (Musicworks Magazine), the Madawaska Quartet performs pieces from the mainstream to performance art, and from the Baroque to the present-day as an international string quartet. In 2012 the MQ expanded to become the Madawaska Ensemble as a result of collaborations over several years with two pianists Leslie Kinton and Brett Kingsbury.
With a roster of collaborators as diverse as their repertoire, the Madawaska Quartet has appeared with artists such as Sopranos Adrianne Pieczonka and Measha Brueggergosman, pianist Jan Lisiecki, singer/songwriter Bob Wiseman, and dancer/choreographer Julia Aplin. They have performed in major international festivals as the Festival Iberoamericano in Puerto Rico, the Festival of the Sound, Guelph fest, the Elora Festival, 21C festival at Koerner Hall, and Ottawa Chamberfest.
The Madawaska Quartet has worked as chamber music faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and has given workshops for students and emerging composers at the University of Toronto, York University, the Composers’ Guild of Canada, and the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop.
As champions of Canadian composers and their works, the MQ has premiered more than thirty new pieces. They have acted as ensemble-in-residence at Array New Music Centre, Music Gallery, and the University of Toronto Scarborough.
Their recordings include the Quartet’s debut cd Prefab, Images with guitarist Rob MacDonald, Impurity Chains by Bekah Simms, Premieres by Conrad Chow, and Time is how you spend your love by Paisley Jura. Premiere by Scott Good is in the works.
Read about CONTAQT
CONTAQT combines 21st Century classical/experimental music with the sensibilities of rock and jazz to form a hybrid chamber ensemble that defies genres. Praised by the Globe and Mail as “thought-provoking” and “highly entertaining”, and by the New York Times as “mesmerizing”, Contact has premiered works by emerging and established Canadian and international composers and has performed at venues and new music festivals around the world such as MassMOCA, MOMA (NYC), Huddersfield Music Festival (UK), MIT, EMPAC, and Columbia University.
Uli Menzefricke – Two Miniatures for Flute or Violin
In Concert
As sought after chamber musician for over thirty years, Sarah performs frequently in Ontario and abroad. Follow Sarah Fraser Raff on Facebook for updates.
Jennifer Fukushima Fall Winter 2015 Look book
BMO
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The Royal Conservatory of Music
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Paul Raff Studio
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Oscar Peterson School
As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” music has been an essential part of social and cultural life as a form of communication and sharing.
I am a JUNO-nominated violinist, pedagogue, Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program Examiner (RCM exams), adjudicator, and lifelong music learner. I am passionate about sharing the joy of studying music through violin, backed by 45 years of playing and 30 years of teaching.
My formative musical training was attained in Japan. I had immense experience performing for Dr. Suzuki of the Suzuki Violin Method as a child, leading me to take Suzuki teacher training courses later. Studying under the founding member of the Tokyo String Quartet, Koichiro Harada, I earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the prestigious Toho Gakuen Music School in Tokyo. I moved to Toronto to continue my studies with the late Lorand Fenyves, then attained a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Toronto and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory. Upon graduation, I joined the Royal Conservatory violin faculty. My students have been accepted into various music festivals and universities in Canada and the US and participate in all levels of the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program, including gold and silver medal winners. I coach chamber music at the Taylor Performance Academy weekly. I joined the College of Examiners in 2021 and maintain an active performing and recording career.
I am constantly refining teaching methods, taking advantage of this digital age for workshops, conferences and masterclasses worldwide, including the Royal Conservatory of Music’s highly anticipated Teaching Elementary Violin Course. As an RCM examiner and adjudicator at music festivals, I witness varied levels of students globally, providing me with a multi-dimensional perspective. To guide students through the four fundamental principles of developing a well-rounded musician – Technique, Theory/History, Musicianship, and Artistry – I strive to offer efficient and creative ways tailored to each student’s unique needs, learning style and goals. As a performer, I constantly reinforce the daily personal discipline of maintaining performance chops, which enables students to relate to me.
Technique-wise, my approach is often somatic, kinesthetic, and inspired based on the Body Mapping and the Alexander Technique methods, which I find most helpful in efficient and injury-preventing learning. Knowing and understanding the instrument’s mechanics is also a key to successfully integrating techniques, which I frequently use for the remedial teaching of transferred students with fast results. I also take the mental and emotional sides of learning very seriously as a recovering performer with stage anxiety. The Inner Game of Tennis book series had a significant impact, and so did meditation and yoga.
I aim to provide students with empowering tools to support them in feeling good about learning, bravery to try new things, and creative problem-solving through organized lesson planning and realistic short and long-term goal setting involving preparing for the RCM Exams and hosting mock exams and recitals. My private students have the advantage of regular chamber experience through my collaborative piano playing at lessons, recitals and exams. Joining choirs, youth orchestras, and music camps is encouraged and taking theory classes is highly recommended. Accountability buddies or practice coaches are offered when appropriate.
I create a warm, welcoming, safe space for students to show their work with spark, comfort, and curiosity without fear or shame. I always love to see students leaving the studio in a better mood than they came in, often humming!
“Teachers open doors. You enter by yourself. ” – Chinese Proverb
Welcome to the journey.
Testimonials available upon request.