Bio
Sarah J Coles (1967-) is a composer from Pembroke, Ontario. She earned a BMus in composition at Wilfrid Laurier University at the age of 21, studying with Boyd McDonald, Peter Hatch, and Glenn Buhr, and later in Manitoba with Pat Carrabre. She also earned a B.Ed. from U of T and a MMus from Western.
Sarah is a multi-instrumentalist, teacher, artist, mother, and writer. Her experience as a saxophonist in big bands brings a jazz influence to her writing. Her music often depicts natural phenomena, or emotional experiences. Her hobby of landscape oil painting has raised an interest in combining visual art with music through installation projects.
Sarah writes frequently for bands, choirs, and small ensembles, and has had her music performed across Canada, as well as in England and the US. Sarah is the Composer-in-Residence with the Cambridge Concert Band as well as a member of the Wellington Wind Symphony. She is an Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre. Sarah teaches music with the Waterloo Region District School Board.
Compositions
Major Works
21C (2023) — Concert Band
Commissioned by the Cambridge Concert Band
Without Music (2022) — SATB, text by the composer
A Shilo Summer (2022) — Concert Band
Commissioned by the Pembroke Legion Band
St. Barbara’s March (2022) — Concert Band
Written for the Royal Canadian Artillery Band
Canadian Treasures (2022) — Concert Band
Commissioned by the Cambridge Concert Band
Premiered in Cambridge, Ontario, December 2022
O Holy King (2022) — Concert Band
Prelude and Postlude (2022) — Flute and alto saxophone
Premiered in Pembroke, Ontario, August 2022
A Canadian Snowfall (2021) — SATB
Text by Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon
St. Brigid’s Well (2021) — Solo viola
Daughter (2020) — TTBB
Text by the composer
Shades of Autumn (2019) — Flute, tenor saxophone, and piano
Fortune Tellers (2019) — Clarinet Quartet
On the Boardwalk (2019) — Flute and piano duet
Commissioned by Sandra Allen and Ivan Barney
At Dusk (2019) — Violin duet, depicting a cat fight
Stealing Fate (2019) — Short string orchestra piece for beginners.
Celebrate! (2019) — A holiday piece for SATB choir.
Weekend Trio (2019) — Two movement saxophone trio.
Scattered Flurries (2019) — Chamber music with a jazz influence, for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano.
Rideau Rondo (2019) — Brass Quintet
Written for the Manotick Brass Quintet.
I Can’t Count the Tears (2019) — Soprano and clarinet
Text by the composer.
The Sky Remains the Same (2019) — SATB choir
Text by the composer.
On Green Lake (2018) — Concert band
Premiered at the University of Windsor, CMC score reading session.
The Old Castle (2017) — A three movement work for young pianists.
Premiered at ACWC piano concert, Conrad Grebel Chapel, University of Waterloo.
Satellites (2017) — Saxophone quartet SATB.
Cycles (2016) — Grade 3 level concert band piece with a lively main theme, and contrasting slow theme.
Performed as part of the CMC/OBA Score Reading Session, London, March 2016.
Performed by the Cambridge Concert Band, July 2017
I, Sea (2010) — SATB
A Lullaby (2001/2007) — SATB choral setting of the text by James Agee.
Premiered in 2008 by the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir.
Fire (2004) — Solo piano
Dreamscape (2003) — Flute choir 2P,5C,Alto,Bass
Biosphere (2000) — Work for flute and piano in 5/4 time that cycles through the keys.
Prairie Summer Nights (1997) — Saxophone quartet SATB
Premiered at the “Night of 1000 Saxophones” in May 1998 at Central Washington University.
Arrival (1994) — Orchestra