A Dedicated Performer

American flutist Sarah Carrier is a versatile musician who has established herself as a chamber musician, soloist, and interpreter of music by living composers. Her performances have garnered praise from audiences and critics alike. Of a performance at New York City venue Le Poisson Rouge, The New York Times writes,

Sarah Carrier has performed in many of the most celebrated venues as varied as Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavíc, Walt Disney Hall, Sydney Opera House, Merkin Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, The Stone, and many others. She can be heard on numerous albums and has been broadcast on television, radio, and podcasts.

Sarah Carrier is a member of the Parhelion Trio, an all-female ensemble dedicated to presenting contemporary music for flute, clarinet, and piano to diverse audiences. The Parhelion Trio has presented programs at the M-Prize Competition, Concert Artist Guild Competition, the National Flute Convention, National Sawdust, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Mannes Institute and Festival for Contemporary Performance, Cornelia Street Cafe, Adelphi University, and St. Joseph’s College.

Dr. Carrier is a winner of the National Flute Association Masterclass Competition, the La Primavera Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and scholarships through the Bob Cole Conservatory Scholarship Competition. She is also a recipient of the CSULB Dean’s List Award, University of Oregon Graduate Teaching Fellowship, and New York University Graduate Scholarship. Sarah Carrier holds a Doctorate in Music Performance from The Graduate Center, CUNY where she studied with renowned contemporary flutist, composer, and inventor, Robert Dick. She earned a Master’s in Flute Performance from New York University (also studying with Robert Dick). Her Bachelor’s in Flute Performance was completed at the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University, Long Beach, where she studied with flute pedagogue John Barcellona. She has also studied with and performed in masterclasses for internationally acclaimed soloists, film studio musicians, orchestral flutists, and improvisors including: Jim Walker, Jill Felber, William Bennett, Denis Bouriakov, Louise di Tullio, Marina Piccinini, Paula Robison, Ransom Wilson, Keith Underwood, Thomas Robertello, and Bart Feller. 

Awards and Achievements

A Passion for Teaching

Sarah has taught the flute privately for over 20 years—ever since she was an undergraduate performance major at Cal State Long Beach. The Hey Flutes Studio is comprised of students of all levels and backgrounds including: adult hobbyists; adults auditioning for semi-professional ensembles and switching to a career in music; high school seniors on their way to become music performance majors; high school freshman auditioning for local youth orchestras, prestigious pre-college programs, and flute ensembles; and enthusiastic beginners and intermediate players.

In higher ed, Sarah was a music faculty member at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, teaching Music Appreciation and Postmodern Music. She also taught flute techniques and lessons to Music Ed majors and non-Music majors at the University of Oregon. She will serve as an adjudicator for the National Flute Association’s Young Soloists Competition at the 2025 NFA Convention and has judged competitions for the New York Flute Club and the New Jersey Flute Society. She has also given masterclasses and clinics for the flute majors at William Paterson University, Vermont Youth Orchestra, New Jersey Flute Choir Day, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, and more.