Sara Louise Callaway
(she/her)
Violin
Sara Louise Callaway uses her experience in both performance and education to care for each student’s unique goals and artistry as a violinist. She pulls from various methods to teach note reading, sound production, and ear training from the very beginning of a child's development as a musician. She loves working with all ages and all levels of players and strives to nurture the whole person through the study of the instrument.
Sara’s students have been accepted in prestigious music programs such as Eastman School of Music, IU Jacobs School of Music, and the Heifetz International Music Institute. They have won local concerto and young artists competitions such as the LYO, YPAS, WUOL, and Ruth French, as well as earned section leader positions in their school and regional orchestras such as LYO, YPAS, All-County, and All-State, etc. Above all Sara is most proud of their progress, hard work, and improvement over time.
Sara received her Master's in Violin Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, studying with Fabian Lopez and Marjorie Bagley and simultaneously completing a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ethnomusicology. She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from UNC-Chapel Hill where she studied under violinist Richard Luby. Prior to college she studied with Ruth French who later became her mentor in Violin Pedagogy. Sara succeeded Ruth as President of the Louisville Academy of Music in 2018.
Sara has performed with groups such as Atlanta Pops, the Louisville Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic, NouLou Chamber Players, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and the Hollywood Concert Orchestra. She has collaborated and recorded with many musicians such as Stephen Vitiello, Will Oldham, Dane Waters, Jacob Duncan, and Ben Sollee. Sara attended music programs at The Berlin University of the Arts, The International Music Academy at Pilsen, The International Violin Symposium at Chapel Hill, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. She was awarded a Pedagogy Fellowship at the Heifetz Institute, a Teaching Assistantship as a member of the Graduate String Quartet at UNC-G, and was a Summer Intern at Appalshop. She has also released a solo violin album on the local record label Auralgami Sounds.
Sara currently serves as Executive Director of the Louisville Academy of Music.
““Thank you so much for your amazing work and support for Meg and all of your students. We love how you teach and guide students – not only to be a musician but also to become a wonderful human being. You are truly a phenomenal teacher.” ”