Sara O'Bryan, soprano

 

A southeastern CT native, Sara O'Bryan has had over 20 years of classical music training. In May 2010, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Hartt School. While at Hartt, Sara studied conducting with Edward Bolkovac, voice with Cherie Caluda and Kenneth Shelley, organ with Kevin Jones, and piano with Paul Rutman. 

 

Sara graduated with a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Yale School of Music in May 2012, receiving a certificate from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and earning the Richard Paul Delong Prize for "best exemplifying the dedication and the use of those special gifts required of practicing church musicians". While at Yale, Sara studied conducting with Marguerite Brooks and Jeffrey Douma, and voice with Judith Malafronte. She also sang with, managed, and was assistant conductor of the Yale Camerata. Sara also sang with the Yale Schola Cantorum, and has worked with conductors Masaaki Suzuki, Simon Carrington, Andrew Megill, Stefan Parkman, David Hill, Christopher Robinson, and Simon Halsey.

 

Mrs. O'Bryan, performing with many ensembles, keeps an active travel schedule. In the summer of 2009, Sara performed with the Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Hartford, CT in Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, England, and St. Paul's Cathedral in London. While in England, she sang under Kevin Jones and John Rutter. In May 2011, Sara went on a performance tour with Masaaki Suzuki, the Yale Schola Cantorum, and Juilliard 415 to sing performances of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion in Rome, Florence, and Milan. In July 2011, Sara was a soprano soloist and guest conductor of the New Haven Chorale, led by Edward Bolkovac, and traveled with them to give performances in Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. In May 2012, Sara traveled with the Yale Schola Cantorum and Simon Carrington to Athens and Istanbul, giving performances of works by Bach, Lang, Liszt, Theofanidis, and Victoria.

 

Sara currently serves on the choral faculty of The Hartt School, where she conducts the Hartt Camerata and Hartt Choir, as well as teaches undergraduate choral conducting, voice, and English diction. In addition to her academic appointments, Sara is also the interim Director of Chapel Music for Marquand Chapel at the Yale Divinity School. She sings in the professional octet of the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist in Stamford, CT, and maintains a private voice and piano studio.