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Sarah Jerrom

Sarah Jerrom is a Canadian vocalist, pianist, composer and arranger specializing in jazz and creative music, taking her inspiration from lyric-driven melodies, genre-defying instrumentation and experimental soundscapes. As a bandleader, Sarah has released three critically-acclaimed albums to date: Dream Logic (2021, TPR Records), which showcases a collection of original songs recorded by her contemporary jazz quartet of the same name, The Yeats Project (2017), featuring W.B. Yeats’s poetry set to original music and orchestrated for a nine-piece chamber jazz ensemble, and Illuminations (2007), which encompasses original compositions, jazz-inspired arrangements of contemporary songs and traditional jazz standards. Her new album, “Magpie,” featuring an original ninety-minute suite for large ensemble, is set for release in spring 2024 on TPR Records.

Headliner performances include Canadian concert venues Brock University’s Centre for the Arts, The Music Gallery, The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and many of Toronto’s top jazz clubs. Jazz festival performances include the 2018 and 2015 Niagara Jazz Festival, the 2012 and 2009 Lakefield Jazz Festival and the 2007 Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. Sarah has performed with renowned jazz artists such as Reg Schwager, Ingrid Jensen, Carnatic-fusion guitarist Prasanna as well as many other notable musicians; she has sung with Alex Samaras’ vocal group, GREX.

As a composer and arranger, Sarah has received awards such as the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival’s 2013 Special Project Initiative for “The Yeats Project,” and many federal and provincial grants to compose and present new works. Her arrangement of the Irish traditional song, “She Moved Through The Fair,” was selected to be presented at the 2017 International Symposium for Jazz Composers and Arrangers at the University of South Florida. She is the winner of the 2017 Niagara Music Awards’ “World Artist” category.

Sarah has studied composition with renowned Canadian composers Christine Jensen, Christopher Smith, Rick Wilkins (O.C.) and Andrew Downing. She earned her Bachelor of Music in jazz voice at the University of Toronto (2005), where she studied with some of Canada’s most esteemed jazz musicians including Heather Bambrick, Christine Duncan, Terry Promane, and Phil Nimmons, and attended the 2008 Banff Centre for the Arts Jazz and Creative Music program.

Sarah is a passionate music educator and private instructor, maintaining a private studio of voice, piano, composition and arranging students. She applies the principles of Somatic VoiceworkTM in her studio and has completed extensive training in teaching all contemporary commercial music styles. Sarah completed review courses at The 2017 LoVetri Institute at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in Berea, Ohio, USA after completing Jeanie LoVetri’s Somatic VoiceworkTM certification courses at the 2013 Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University in Virginia, USA. She has taught at Humber College’s jazz program and was on the vocal faculty at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in Chennai, India for the 2010 summer semester.

Headliner performances across Ontario include Brock University’s Centre for the Arts, The Music Gallery, The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and many of Toronto’s top jazz clubs and listening rooms. Jazz festival performances include the 2018 and 2015 Niagara Jazz Festival, the 2012 and 2009 Lakefield Jazz Festival and the 2007 Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival. Sarah has performed with renowned jazz artists such as Mike Murley, Kevin Turcotte, Ingrid Jensen, Carnatic-fusion guitarist Prasanna as well as many other notable musicians; she has sung with Alex Samaras’ vocal group, GREX.

Sarah has studied composition under renowned Canadian composers Christine Jensen, Christopher Smith, Rick Wilkins (O.C.) and Andrew Downing. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Music in jazz voice at the University of Toronto (2005), where she studied with some of Canada's most esteemed jazz musicians, including Heather Bambrick, Christine Duncan, Terry Promane, and Phil Nimmons.

Sarah is a passionate music educator and private instructor, maintaining a private studio of voice, piano, composition, arranging, and theory students. She applies the principles of Somatic Voicework (TM) in her studio and has completed extensive training in teaching all contemporary commercial music styles. Sarah attended The 2017 LoVetri Institute at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in Ohio, USA and completed Jeanie LoVetri’s Somatic Voicework certification courses at the 2013 Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University in Virginia, USA. She was on the vocal faculty at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in Chennai, India for the 2010 summer semester. She has conducted various Toronto school choirs and as a musical/choir director at Choir Nation.

Awards

Winner of the 2017 Niagara Music Awards "World Artist" Category

2017 International Jazz Composers’ Symposium (University of South Florida, Tampa, FL USA): Composition/Arrangement of She Moved Through the Fair (Traditional) selected to be presented as part of the New Music Workshops (May 18-20, 2017)

Toronto Downtown Jazz: Winner of Special Projects Initiative for “The Yeats Project” (2013)

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New Sounds from Canada and More

by Bob Osborne
April 15, 2021

On this show we feature seven new albums that demonstrate the musical diversity of jazz. Three of them feature Canadian artists reflecting the current strength of the scene in that country. There's a new album from Posi-Tone and the remaining three releases are from European artists.Playlist Hector “Building 8" from Uncharted (Self Released) 00:00 Mareike Wiening “Metropolis Paradise" from Live at Bird's Eye Basel (Greenleaf) 08:19 Out to Dinner “Random" from Play On (Positone) 19:31 Sarah Jerrom “Snowblind" ...

“... Jerrom sounds best when she is free of traditional confines...” – Robert Rusch, Cadence Magazine

"(Jerrom’s) voice is pristine and high-sprung. She has an innate sense of lyricism and seems not just to dwell in, but is immersed in an enormous palette of the most gorgeous colours.... the (YEATS PROJECT'S) master-stroke is most definitely delivered by the wraith-like vocals of Sarah Jerrom.” – Raul da Gama, Toronto Music Report, Senior Writer

“With DREAM LOGIC, Sarah Jerrom simply uses allusion as another tool from her toolbox, along with the use of strong melody writing, compelling storytelling—both in the form of lyrics and musical arrangement—to craft what is a beautiful, unique, and deeply personal work, which is all any artist can ask for.” – Chris Fraser, Rhythm Changes

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Toronto

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Toronto

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Sarah has almost 15 years of experience working as a music educator in Toronto, Oakville and Niagara. Her passion lies in helping each student discover and develop their own unique, individual sound using a joyful and compassionate learning process. She is currently accepting new private voice students (all levels and ages) and piano students (beginner – intermediate level) in her Niagara studio, located near downtown St. Catharines. "I am an elementary school teacher and I’ve been taking voice and piano lessons with Sarah for over three years. I didn’t consider myself a singer before starting, but singing has become a joyful part of my life and working with Sarah has consistently been the highlight of my week. She is bright and encouraging. She demonstrates dedication to her learners by continuing to develop her repertoire of teaching tools. She has empowered me as a singer and performer. I highly recommend her to anyone interested in music lessons." – Tessa Sarah’s voice specialization includes, but is not limited to, jazz and pop styles. She applies the principles of Somatic Voicework (TM) in her studio and has completed extensive training in teaching all contemporary commercial music styles. She also teaches piano lessons from beginner to intermediate levels. Other musical areas offered include: Composition Arranging Theory Improvisation Ear Training Sight Reading "We’re so pleased and impressed with Sarah’s enthusiastic and innovative approach to teaching music. In addition to traditional methods of instruction, she employs creative, “outside the box” techniques to motivate our son’s interest in his piano lessons and to foster a genuine love of music in him, which we feel is equally as important as learning the proper techniques. We’re very fortunate that our son has the opportunity to learn from Sarah and we appreciate all of the many ways she goes above and beyond to enrich his musical education!" – Heather and John As well as holding a degree in jazz voice performance from the University of Toronto (2005), Sarah attended The 2017 LoVetri Institute at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in Ohio, USA and also completed Jeanie LoVetri’s Somatic Voicework (TM) certification courses at the 2013 Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University in Virginia, USA. She was on the vocal faculty at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in Chennai, India for the 2010 summer semester. Sarah has taught specialized classroom music courses at post-secondary, secondary, and primary levels, and has conducted several jazz and concert choirs in the Greater Toronto Area within the Montessori school system and private school system. Sarah also works as a musical director for Choir Nation, a team building company that uses the power of singing to connect and inspire employees. She also leads Choir Nation Niagara’s weekly drop-in choir, where all levels of singers are welcome.

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