Biography

Pianist Sarah Shipp leads an active career as a performer, teacher, collaborative artist and accompanist. 

 

Sarah was born in Lusk, Ukraine and  lived in an orphanage where music was banned. At two years of age she was adopted by an American family with a passion for music and is now the youngest of seven children. She was instantly drawn to the heavenly compositions of Chopin, Liszt, Mozart, Ernesto Lecuana and Bach as she found her new identity, which has defined her life ever since. 

 

In 2016 Sarah won an award in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. She was also a featured pianist in the

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art’s Play Me, I’m Yours exhibit.

 

She started piano lessons at the age of five and has competed in many competitions including: BYU Young Musicians Festival where she studied with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox and Dr. Jeff Shumway, Utah State music festival, UMTA, and the Utah Symphony Youth Guild.  She also attended Stoney Brook International Music Festival, with a performance at New York City’s Yamaha Piano Salon, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. She played in masterclasses with Steven Beus, Dr. Irene Peery-Fox, Weiyin Chen, Ronald Bratigum and Jeffrey Kahane. 

 

As an advocate for community outreach, Sarah has performed in many community musical gatherings including MUNDI project performances in local elementary schools. 

 

She currently studies with Professor Jihea Hong-Park, at BYU, where she is completing her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. Sarah has also studied with Weiyin Chen and Dr. Stephen Beus. 

 

 At their invitation, she has performed on stage with Paul Cardall and Josh Wright.

 

When she is not playing the piano, Sarah spends time as an artist, ballroom and folk dancer. 

She also loves to read and play tennis and pickleball.