Teacher

Sarah Best comes from a diverse background in both performance and teaching artistry. Her versatility within her field has allowed her to garner a career involving various creative projects, educational and performance-based, with organizations throughout the United States including: The American Symphony Orchestra, Ash Lawn Opera, Bard Music Festival, The Daraja Ensemble, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, The Light Opera of NY, The Los Angeles Operetta Foundation, The Luzerne Music Center, The Maryland Opera Studio, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, The Ohio Light Opera, Opéra Louisiane, St. Petersburg Opera, Roundabout Theatre Company, and The Virginia Consort.

Known for her comic timing and her rapport with the audience, Best's range of stage experience branches out from the traditional opera canon and sacred music performance into contemporary concert works and includes a vast repertoire from the American musical theatre tradition. Favorite roles performed include: Nelly Forbush (South Pacific), The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites), Marian Paroo (The Music Man), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice), Guenevere (Camelot), Lilli Vanessi (Kiss Me, Kate), Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia), Venus (One Touch of Venus), Pistache (Can-Can) and Mad Margaret (Ruddigore).

Best received her doctorate from the University of Michigan (DMA), and is a graduate of the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland (MM) and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania (BM). Her teaching work and research interests surround: healthy, organic and science-based vocal techniques and the evolution of performing arts practices into 21st century best practices. Having spent years working as a K-12 teaching artist, a vocal coach, director, choreographer, and professor of music, Best currently serves as the Senior Executive Assistant in the Office of the President at the Cleveland Institute of Music. While exploring her new home in Cleveland, OH, she is also continuing her work as a performer, staunch performing arts education advocate, executive presence coach, and a creative freelance professional in communities across the Northeastern United States.