Sarah Hagen
“Hagen reminds us the beauty of how an honest solo performance can make you so easily fall in love with its performer. ”
— Montreal Rampage
Sarah Hagen
GENRE: Classical piano
Awarded as Artist of the Year by both Ontario Contact (2017) and the BC Touring Council (2015), and mentioned by The Guardian (Charlottetown) as the Best Classical Performance of 2014, pianist Sarah Hagen’s interpretations have been described as "outstandingly inventive" [University of Waterloo Gazette], ”played flawlessly” [ReviewVancouver]. Her extensive touring has taken her across Canada, to Sweden, France, Germany and Italy, and twice to New York City’s Carnegie Hall.
Sarah brings her unique blend of humour and excellence to the stage in personal and intimate recitals. Breaking down barriers with her engaging personality and hilarious sense of fun, she warmly invites listeners into the incredible and distinct world of classical music. Programme themes include music inspired by birds and birdsong, and a musical menagerie, music inspired by all sorts of animals. For more traditional concert societies, Sarah also offers a breathtaking and virtuosic programme with masterworks by Chopin, Haydn, Rachmaninov, and Bach's Goldberg Variations.
Touring Programmes
Goldberg Variations
A classic programme featuring the formidable Goldberg Variations in celebration of her recent album.
"Perk up, pianist!"
Sarah's one-woman, sit-down musial comedy about life as a touring musician.
Wonder Women
The extraordinary female composers history left behind.
Sarah Hagen in the Festival Setting
“Sarah Hagen is an important performer for any Modern Music Festival. She is the only person I've seen who can take classical piano and make it truly accessible and fun for your average roots music crowd, be they at a house concert or a festival like ours. Her mixture of virtuosic playing and wacky humour create a perfect combination and her contribution to our ’session’ stages of workshops and jam sessions were right on the mark. She is a powerful, generous collaborator and gets what we are about. Sarah is very easy to work with in regards to technical requirements and is fully prepared to jump into the trenches of our Festival stages with no attitude. Sarah was an absolute joy to work with. Sarah fills a niche no other Artist is filling at our Festivals. Simply put, we will have her back and I guess, that speaks volumes!”
--Doug Cox , Artistic Director, Vancouver Island MusicFest
“Her mixture of virtuostic playing and wacky humour create a perfect combination and her contribution to our ’session’ stages of workshops and jam sessions were right on the mark” - Doug Cox