Sarah Leonard  MBE

It was such a shock to learn of Sarah's illness and even more of a shock to hear that it had lasted such a short time before she was gone. My image of her is of someone so fit and lively that it seems incredible. Although I never knew her well, she was a constant and inspiring presence throughout the 20 years I spent as a member of the Choir of St Barnabas, Dulwich, supporting her children and their friends who were senior choristers when I arrived; singing solos in some of our very special concerts and services or sometimes just discreetly joining us to boost the sopranos at Christmas services or on recordings. Later, as I started working on Classical Music, The Singer and Music Teacher magazines, Sarah readily shared her expertise in contemporary music, singing and singing teaching, always happy to supply a relevant quote or to anwer questions about her work. We last saw each other in the summer of 2018 when she came to Presteigne, in the Welsh Marches, where I now live, to do a residential course in singing pedagogy with my neighbours Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher of Vocal Process. At the end of one of their study days Sarah came up for a glass of wine in our garden and we had SUCH a lovely chat. I'm so glad that my last memory is of Sarah in such a relaxed and cheerful off-duty mood. She was full of news about her grandchildren, whom she clearly adored. I'm sure they will all retain vivid memories of her warmth and love. My husband David and I are more sorry than we can say about the loss to all Sarah's family and close friends, and send our deepest sympathy to Peter, and to Ed, Helen and their families.

I've been thinking for weeks about what I wanted to write since I found out about Sarah's passing. Being at the funeral today, solidified those thoughts.

I met Sarah as a young man with a modicum of singing ability, wanting help to "retrieve" my singing voice. Within the hour I knew I wanted to another lesson next month and that carried on for about 15 years. I always felt better after a lesson with Sarah - we shared how the last month had been for us both, what I goals I had coming, and she would advise on what I could or should be singing. When I arrived with "life problems" she was a super supportive person to listen those problems without judgement and provided sound and level headed advice. After that we'd do the 1hr lesson - so often I got a singing lesson and therapy at the same time for the same price....

In the last 5 years and specifically post-Covid, though I saw Sarah less often - every few months, rather than every month - she still gave me amazing singing support, time, encouragement and was really complementary about what I was doing, how I sounded and gave me validation that my "voice" was actually good. In my last session with her (in February or March 2024), she told me "you are a singer and you need to keep doing it". Knowing about her incredible achievements as a singer and performer, I took huge pride in this compliment and the words have stuck with me this year.

I feel really lucky and privileged to have known and been tutored by Sarah Leonard - an amazing singer, teacher and human being, and I'll miss seeing her.

My condolences and much love to her family. x

Sarah was my singing teacher when I trained at the RCSSD. She was a kind and calm force in a sea of drama, competition and pressure which I remember feeling a lot particularly in my first year. ‘Lovely’ is an overused word but it’s my overriding memory of her. I really enjoyed my lessons and she gave me such confidence. Thank you Sarah and sending love to all her family and friends.

I enjoyed the great privilege of having private lessons with Sarah for the last 6 years, and never took for granted how fortunate I was. I'm very glad that I told her often how my singing lessons were the highlight of my week. We kept going through all but the strictest Covid lockdowns which I found so supportive during those dark and frightening times.

Sarah was a born teacher and had the great gift of making every student believe they were secretly her favourite. She knew instinctively the blend of correction and encouragement which would bring out the best in each student - in my case, a rather anxious student, she recruited her dear cats to put me at my ease. She was thrilled when she finally persuaded me to attend one of her courses at Benslow which she ensured by kindly giving me a lift there and back in her car; that course is now a treasured memory.

Sarah's passion for music, zest for life and above all her kindness made every lesson an adventure. I will miss her more than words can say.

I was fortunate enough to be taught by Sarah during my time at Central. Our lessons always began with a huge smile and lots of 'silent laughing' which I now pass onto my own students. As my own teaching career has developed, I am struck with how positive and enthusiastic Sarah remained when teaching in a small practice room all day. It is no mean feat!

I was deeply saddened to hear about Sarah's passing and remember our lessons fondly. It was a pleasure to have known her.

Coming to singing lessons and solo work in my later years after a lifetime of choral singing was a daunting prospect, especially since Sarah was so eminent. But I needn’t have worried. Sarah was a kind, insightful, highly encouraging and supportive teacher - and great fun. We shared a love of musical theatre, and my fortnightly lessons from autumn 2022 were eagerly anticipated by me and greatly enjoyed and appreciated. She taught me the physiology of singing as well as considerably extending my vocal range – and the musicianship to go with it. Within a few months of starting with Sarah, it was a happy coincidence that she was the soloist in the Rutter Magnificat in the same local concert in Blackheath where (with her coaching) I sang one of the very short ‘from the choir’ solos in a Czech Mass.

Although I had only known and worked with Sarah for such a short time, I was so shocked and saddened to hear of her death. I extend my warmest sympathies to the many she knew and worked with far longer over her professional career.

I first met Sarah working with London Sinfonietta Voices and was in awe of her sight reading and musicianship……so much better than anything I could hope for. And being able to pitch and sing Top Z was phenomenal. Throughout the years she always seemed full of energy, ideas and creativity and I so admired her coping with the logistics of being a single parent while being incredibly well prepared. She was always supportive of colleagues working in other fields and was a regular opera goer, always letting me know if she was coming to ENO, with a complimentary email afterwards. We didn’t meet up very often but she always made the effort to come to our Xmas parties despite it being a journey and I looked forward to hearing about her growing family of grandchildren…..she was always so wonderfully proud of her kith and kin. There is very definitely a Sarah shaped hole in our lives now. RIP dear Sarah.

The news of Sarah's sudden passing has left me with a heavy heart, but also fond memories of a happy musical collaboration. My music over thirty years would have been unthinkable without her - and not only in the commercial work we undertook. Her voice became a part of my creative imagination, and she was a willing participant in the most oddball of projects - brilliant and hard-working but also somehow effortless in the most high pressure of situations, making everything she was involved in the better for her participation. She will, of course, be sorely missed, but the memories of her shining talent and warm, luminous personality will live on.

We met as students, though at different colleges; alas, we bumped into each other only infrequently over the intervening fifty years. I have always admired her musicianship, integrity and leadership, especially latterly in her role as Chairman of AESS, where she achieved much. She was an inspiration, a breath of fresh air, and I loved her sense of fun.

Sarah's was a genuinely unique talent, as is evident from her performing career. In addition to this, however, what was also abundantly evident was her extraordinary commitment to the music profession, in particular her support for the AESS. She chaired the composition song jury which I had the honour to be part of and was invariably kind, generous and scrupulously fair. What a wonderful person.

I am shocked and saddened to hear of Sarah's passing.

I first met Sarah in 1996 working together on a chamber opera of Pascal Dusapin and from the very first, I was amazed by her. 
Sarah sang so beautifully, with impeccable musicianship, making fiendishly difficult music sound like child's play, day after day, and no matter what the circumstance. I remember during one performance, the television monitors through which we'd see the conductor failed to turn on. We were flying blind for the first twenty measures until a fermata in the music, at which time, Sarah gracefully sashayed to the wings, and in a rather loud stage whisper said "Turn on the tellys! The tellys aren't on!" Naturally, she returned to sing her next entrance without missing a beat! Sarah gave her best in every performance, and singing alongside her was a joy.

Sarah's kindness, sunny spirit and complete devotion - both to music and to her family whom she loved so much- made her a person to treasure. She was proof that one can be both a stellar artist and a truly good and generous person. I will never forget her.
Rest in peace, dear friend.

Singing alongside Sarah over many years and then a slightly different involvement when she was running AESS was, frankly, always a joy. I was a bit in awe of her utter professionalism, never without a smile and a laugh. She made the most challenging as well as the simplest music sound easy and lyrical. So well prepared and imagined..as others have written, an object lesson for us all. In the midst of all her brilliance, Sarah preserved complete humility which again is a rare and affecting hallmark. She is and will be for a very long time so missed.

Sarah was a truly unique musician and human who I had the pleasure of knowing since 2002. Our first outing together (also my first professional work in the United States) was at the beautiful Beinecke Rare Book Library in New Haven, a programme of ‘Ancient Echoes’ a trio with John Kenny.

We played a two hour plus programme of hugely challenging and rewarding new music including Judith Weir’s King Harald’s Saga - a grand opera for unaccompanied soprano … not once, but twice! As always Sarah’s performance was delivered with sheer class, effortless ease and she was such brilliant fun to hang out with.

She will be hugely missed.

We first met Sarah we she was tutoring a Spring Songfest at Benslow in 2014. We were immediately impressed by the way she taylored her advice and encouragement to each individual singer. She kindly took us on as private pupils and over the last ten years we have greatly enjoyed her remarkable skills as a teacher, her friendship and hearing the latest news of her very talented grandchildren, and her pride in them.
Her passing will leave a real gap in our lives. She had so much to give and we will miss her positivity and her obvious pleasure in enabling all her students to make the best of their skills.
Our deepest sympathies go out to her husband and family. May she rest in peace. The Heavenly Choir will be enhanced by her wonderful talents!
Andrew and Anne

We grew up in Winchester in a musical household. Dad the loud flamboyant extrovert, mum the quiet, deep thinking introvert. Thus Sarah and I were naturally drawn to music. We remained close, speaking at least twice a week even though our musical careers were quite opposite. On the rare occasion we preformed together we managed to fuse these styles into an eclectic mix of classical and musical theatre. Sarah was always an inspiration, a loving sister who was full of life and looking ahead to the next big adventure. I will always miss her. Paul .

I met Sarah as a student of hers at Benslow. She was a wonderful tutor giving so much knowledge, inspiration and encouragement.
I discovered that both of us of us had been in Frankfurt singing the,War Requiem under Eliahu Inbal with Julia Varady, Robert Tear and Thomas Helmsley. She was a BBC Singer and I was in the BBC Symphony Chorus.
Two things that I remember her saying are that she dined out on E flats for quite a few years (I see that Harry Christophers said that her top E at the end of La Voix Humaine was legendary) and that Boulez once called her a naughty girl. I think that she had taken an unrehearsed breath.
She was altogether lovely.

Back in January 1999 Sarah and pianist Andrew Ball spent three days in the Warehouse Studio, London, recording songs well out of her usual repertoire. Apart from Franz Lehár's operettas his songs were neglected at that time. Glocken Verlag staff in London and Frankfurt complied a portfolio of Franz Lehár's songs from which Sarah selected nineteen to be recorded. The selection included songs in the romantic German Lieder tradition mingled with unashamedly popular songs and ravishing waltz songs. For example "Das lockende Lied" expresses the singer's attraction to a little bird flying high the sky and gloriously shows off the upper ranges of Sarah's voice, which was accomplished with soaring ease, How did we decide to invite Sarah to record these romantic songs? Our producer Nick Morgan, who at that time was producing live music for Classic fm (in those days the station was required to broadcast live music in addition to recordings), thought Sarah, whom he had come to know, would be ideal for Lehár's music. Clearly some lateral thinking on his part, but it paid off. Three memorable days ensued that I shall never forget. You can still listen to these songs on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/7tUapZhEZaj84VtBVxyCZJ

My memories of Sarah go back many years. One of the earliest was when I was joint artistic director of the Bath Festival. I engaged her with organist Christopher Bowers-Broadbent to perform Gavin Bryars' "The Black River". My really meaningful contact with her came around 2012 when she was soloist and competition judge for the English Poetry and Song Society. My setting of Philip Larkin's "The North Ship" got first prize and was sung consummately by Sarah at the competition finale concert in Bristol. As a result Sarah agreed that I should write a complete cycle of Larkin's poems for her. Her one stipulation was that the ensemble should include a part for clarinet. Thus, with the help of a grant from ACE, the cycle "Dark Seas" came about - 5 poems of Philip Larkin for soprano, clarinet and piano. I remember attending the first rehearsal with some trepidation. But I was overwhelmed by the sheer visceral impact of Sarah's voice accompanied by pianist Stephen Gutman and clarinetist Mary Barrett with a power and accuracy I had hardly dared to imagine possible. The first public performance in May 2014 at the Lantern Theatre in Bristol was part of the Severnside Composers Alliance concert series that year. I composed again for Sarah in 2018, dishing up a setting of Julia Copus' poem "Stars Movening Westward" for a concert with the Gemini Ensemble as part of Severnside Composers Alliance. Sarah and I had been planning to work together again this year but sadly this was not to be. I wrote the part of Estrildis in my new opera "The Summer Child", specifically for her voice. She was most generous in offering to come to Bristol to work with me on the realization of the part before her cancer was diagnosed. Her extraordinary voice with its huge range (G3 to E flat 6), its accuracy of pitch and rhythm, its sheer virtuosity, its overwhelming power and above all the sensitive and deeply intelligent musicianship with which she performed will be hard to match.

It was always so wonderful working with Sarah. She had a lovely gentle way to suggest improvements that belied her firm expertise and sheer professionalism. Whether a programme of thorny contemporary material, or doing a masterclass for high school age singers, the work was done consummately and always with a light touch and odd flashes of gentle humour. It was lovely to keep in touch with her after I moved to the US. So very much missed.

We were so sorry to hear that Sarah had died. We knew her through family (sister in law) and have happy memories of our get togethers as our respective families grew up. In particular, we remember our reunions at Christmas time, lunching in pubs in the Oxford and Stratford area, as the children became teenagers and young adults. Our thoughts are with Peter, Ed and Helen and their families at this sad time.

Sarah taught me for a number of years and was particularly helpful in respect of preparing me for my PhD recitaly. Her knowledge of the physiology of the voice and her ability to help with vocal problems gave great clarity to her tuition and produced a happy outcome for me. In respect of her singing, both my husband, Peter Sproston, and I much enjoyed the beauty of her voice. Peter accompanied her on a number of occasions and greatly enjoyed doing so.

Sarah’s amazing skill as a quick learner was witnessed by me at first-hand in a performance of music by Monteverdi and his contemporaries in which I was also a soloist. Several of the items were little known, but Sarah, called in at a couple of days’ notice, was completely on top of them. I was proud to sing beside her in this performance, and I very much appreciate all the help she gave me over the years. For my lessons in London, Sarah and Peter were often kind enough to furnish me with dinner, bed and breakfast – way beyond the call of duty, I felt! My husband and I send our sincere condolences to Sarah’s family and to all who will miss her so greatly.

Pam Waddington Muse (and on behalf of Peter Sproston)

I have known my dear friend Sarah since I arrived to the GSM when I was eighteen and found myself playing for her singing lessons. She was in the year above me, an incalculable distance from my perspective. Her singing was obviously mesmerising. It took me some years to find a way to work with her but she premiered my Songs for Sylvia with the London Festival Orchestra. After that I worked with her whenever I could and she starred in my opera Dirty Tricks, recorded my first CD of songs, and came to Mexico to perform with me. Living abroad for a few years, she offered me somewhere to stay in Dulwich occasionally when I came back for short visits. She was always kind and generous to my family and I and on one occasion we came back to our own flat to discover she had cleaned it for us after the tenants left. I also remember her working non-stop on her properties, making sure she could move on to another more securely.. I don’t know how she found the time and energy to do all she did alongside learning some of the world’s most difficult music. I was pleased to be able to help her be offered a job teaching at Central School of Speech and Drama, where I taught for some years where I know her teaching was much loved by her students. I am the richer for having known her, to be able to count on her as a friend and musical co-conspirator. I shall always be grateful but she will be sorely missed by me and so many others. Thank you, Sarah, and thank you Ed, Helen and Peter.

Sarah was my singing teacher for two years at Central. I’ll never forget the kindness, patience and warmth she had whenever I had my lessons with her. Such a supportive soul, we all truly felt as though she believed in every single one of us. I particularly loved singing some Mozart with her - She just knew exactly what I needed to bring it to life. What a terrific woman, teacher and, of course, singer. Rest in peace Sarah. Sending all my love to those closest to her. Love From Ben Mabberley x

I first knew and worked with Sarah on a recording of my string quintet which has a big part for soprano in its finale; that was in 1999. She visited me a few days before rehearsals for this began in earnest, to go through her part with me at the piano; I was astonished, not only at her wonderful singing but also at the extent to which she had grasped the work’s every nuance, as if she’d been singing it ever since I’d completed its score back in 1977. During that afternoon it quickly became clear that her way with the piece was beyond my wildest dreams; the sheer brilliance and sensitivity of her artistry was incomparable.

She worked exceptionally well with the five string players who found her a joy to record with and I have many fond memories of those sessions; one of these found her taking charge of a passage which seemed rather to be falling apart by standing on a chair and conducting it, which resolved the problem perfectly! Two critics who reviewed the recording wrote that this was the finest singing that they’d ever heard from Sarah. What was also amazing was that she learned what is some 50 minutes’ worth of challenging music in a mere 3½ weeks during much of which she was away giving classes in Mexico! How she managed to do that I shall never know – but then she was a most remarkable artist.

She will be sorely missed by all those who knew her and were familiar with her work.

The news of her passing came as an immense shock; I had not even realised that she had been ill.

Sincerest condolences to her husband Peter and all of her family.

RIP, dear and wonderful Sarah...

Sarah was our next-door neighbour for some years when we had the privilege of hearing Sarah practice singing most days. Sarah suggested our small children should join the local St Barnabas Church choir. I am still in the choir thirty years later and our daughter has a career in music. We used to have a Christmas eve party with children playing instruments and singing. One year Sarah, Edward and Helen composed and sang a Christmas carol to huge applause. Thank you so much, Sarah, for gifting music to our family life.

Soon after I became AESS Chair in 2005, we managed to persuade Sarah to join the committee. What a great move that was. I was running regular courses at Little Benslow Hills and I asked Sarah to deputise for me on one occasion. She was such a hit that I was fortunate to still be asked back! Sarah ran regular courses there and gave many recitals with Stephen Gutman. We were then asked to run joint courses which continued for many years with Sarah’s regular accompanist Stephen and my regular accompanist Gavin Roberts. We all worked well together and the courses were much appreciated by the many participants who returned time after time. Sarah was always enthusiastic, always positive and encouraging, leaving the performer feeling that they had really achieved something in their performance whilst taking away valuable insights into how to improve. Sarah was always great fun: during warm-ups, during the classes, at meal times and in the bar at the end of the day! 100% of commitment and support. Sarah was a superb choice to take over as AESS Chair at the AGM in 2015 developing, with the committee, the scope of the AESS in many new directions based on its core statement. I was so pleased to catch up with her at the last ‘Unsung Heroes’ concert in Hampstead. Sarah was deservedly awarded the MBE for her work and could therefore be considered a ‘Sung Hero’ which is how I would like to remember her.

I have known Sarah for many years, not just as a singer with a voice of remarkable beauty and expressiveness but also as a gifted and insightful teacher. In 2020, Sarah honoured me by joining my Estill Master Trainer teaching programme. I found it extraordinary that a singer of her skill, experience and facility wanted to embark on this long training. Her openness to new ideas and ways of thinking about voice and her willingness to implement these ideas into her own singing, to constantly be rethinking and reassessing, was something that impressed me enormously and which I greatly admired. It was also typical of her as an artist. Her modesty within the group and generosity with her knowledge to those less experienced was unstinting and endless. Dearest Sarah, thank you for everything you shared with us all. I, for one, will never forget your unique contribution, wonderful artistry and beautiful soul. Rest in love.

The first recital I heard at the guildhall as a student was with Sarah. Later on I performed with her often and have many memories of her beautiful voice and clear spirit. As I write this I am seeing her jogging through woodland in Freiburg. Lovely! Much loved and sorely missed x

I knew about Sarah from colleagues, and our first meeting was when we both sang Dominic Muldowney's music for the film 1984 - we loved the timing of it and enjoyed working together. It led on, and Sarah sang a lot for my ex husband Terry Edwards, which she did beautifully in concerts and recordings.
We sang a lot of Ligeti together with Omar Ibrahim - all over Europe and then staged which meant memorising it. We were a good trio and had some great times - once when Sarah burst an eardrum on a plane to Paris and of course just carried on as she would. Her consummate professionalism, incredible ability and calm was always there, as well as her beautiful liquid and fearless soprano voice. One special memory for me is Sarah's singing of Amor (Strauss Brentano songs) in which she sparkled and flamed so magically I have never heard a better performance.

My earliest memories of Sarah were when we both played in the Hampshire Youth Orchestra (Sarah on violin). In one concert at St Cross Church Winchester, where she was later to marry Peter, she sang a duet and it was the first time we were all aware that she was a singer as well as a violinist! Since then Veronica and I have enjoyed knowing her as a friend as well as collaborating professionally.
She will be greatly missed.

Although I met Sarah just a couple of years ago, in the short time I knew her she became my brilliant singing teacher and a very good friend. At the outset I knew very little about singing but she was always there for me, patient, fun, a wonderful teacher who encouraged me to believe in myself. She helped me to find my voice, literally and metaphorically. Over time we became good friends and while Sarah taught me everything I know about singing, we also had great fun together. She was a wonderful teacher, a kind and caring person and I shall miss her very much. Rest in peace, dear Sarah.

My cousin Sarah and I were both eldest children only months apart, so we did everything first and almost in lockstep. She was the last person on earth who shared my life from the dawn of childhood memory. We went through the stages of infancy, growing up, adulthood, children, grandchildren and the whole chain of life’s experiences that come with that, together. Our orbits crossed on family occasions, both happy and sad, and when we both had young children and lived in South London. One memory is particularly poignant.
When my father died in 1993, his funeral was held in a small Derbyshire church. These occasions are never easy; grief and administration are uncomfortable bedfellows. I asked Sarah to sing “Come unto him” from the Messiah. The organist was an amateur church organist. The very brief rehearsal did not inspire great confidence in his ability to do justice to an internationally known soprano. It worried me. Sarah seemed unjustifiably relaxed as soon as she had run through a few bars. I had much else to worry about on that day.
The moment in the service arrived when the shaky introduction to “ Come unto him” staggered out of the organ. What followed was truly one of the most intense experiences in my life. I’m weeping as I write this. Sarah’s magnificent voice soared through that little church with such ease and authority that St Mathew’s words set to Handel’s magnificent theme touched every one present so deeply that few of us could restrain tears. I feel privileged that the abiding memory of my father’s funeral was graced with such beauty.
Thank you Sarah.

Of all my collaborations with performers, working with Sarah has been among the most profound in my life as a composer. I'm sure so many others feel the same. We worked together for over 20 years. At first I was very much a rookie writing for voice, and quite nervous of the process, but with Sarah's gentle support and encouragement, she made everything so much easier. Not only was her voice so beautiful, but she also had so much emotional depth and intelligence. Thank you so much Sarah for bringing your magic to our pieces together. I will miss Sarah enormously. My deepest condolences and thoughts go out to her cherished family X

Sarah was a fantastic teacher and an even more lovely person, she helped many like me get to grips with their voice and feel confident in an ever difficult industry. Her kind soul and brilliant skill will be greatly missed

I first met Sarah about 25 years ago when she came to me for singing lessons. I always looked forward to her visiting my studio because we had so much fun, particularly when negotiating some of the wild contemporary pieces she was engaged to sing, and which a lesser musician than Sarah would never have coped with.
Sarah was always a joy to work with, and we kept in touch over the years and met on various courses I was presenting, and even up until July of this year when she was diagnosed and had to withdraw from a Singing teachers course she had taken with me during the pandemic online, but wanted to do it in person. She was one of the most intelligent and musical singers I have ever known, and when combined with her wonderful sense of humour it is easy to see how well loved and respected she was across the profession. Rest well darling Sarah, you have delighted so many with your beautiful voice and inspired so many with your teaching. The musical world has lost one of the best.

I had the privilege of playing for Sarah on several occasions, accompanied her students at her home over a period of about twelve years and was a close neighbour for some time in Dulwich. I always felt Sarah didn’t just sing a song- she inhabited it. She savoured English texts, every syllable and letter being projected naturally with subtle nuances. She showed immaculate technique and heartfelt understanding and commitment in everything she sang.
A favourite was “My heart is like a singing bird” and the joy she communicated to the audience was palpable and totally believable. The similes keep coming in the beautiful Christina Rossetti text and Sarah similarly would pile on the energy until the seemingly effortless climactic note that Parry demands:
“Because the birthday of my life, my love, is come to me!” This ravishing climax was always spot on, and the tall order was for the pianist to match her energy and accuracy in the last few solo piano bars!
And no meaning was glossed over —
students and pianists alike learnt what “vair” was!
In contrast she found an almost sensuous and enticing timbre in Ivor Gurney’s “Sleep”. The opening words “Come, sleep!” had an unforgettable yearning in Sarah’s inspired hands. And one could almost taste the “sweet deceiving” which sleep and its delights might offer.
Sarah once told me that she liked to treat everyone, famous or not, with the same friendly manner — “we are all human” she said.
This approach probably led to an interesting conversation she had with the late, great fashion designer Versace at La Scala.
She had been asked to wear an outfit which included an incredibly high pair of heels — in which she was required to climb a ramp and sing!
In her usual open manner Sarah asked him directly if she could wear a lower, more comfortable pair of heels with the outfit.
With a wry smile Sarah said he looked at her with steely eyes and replied
“That IS the outfit!”
So Sarah just got on with it and still managed to have an impressive debut at La Scala!
I feel so fortunate to have known Sarah as a colleague and friend, and how gratifying it is to see, from the wonderful tributes here, that she was held in such high esteem by so many.

Sarah was my singing teacher at Central and often during the summer holidays too! I’d come to her lovely home in Skipton and warble my way through something, whilst being supported and well taught by Sarah. She was so kind and generous to me. So very saddened by her passing. A truly inspirational and talented lady.

Sarah was such a dedicated and passionate colleague. It was wonderful to witness her inspiring leadership and teaching at both AESS and Benslow Music. We will miss her enormously.

What a supportive singer and colleague Sarah was to composers - in my case, over four decades. Her clarity and straightforwardness when working on newly written music was something very special. She was a vital figure in the British new music scene, and we'll all miss her encouragement and generously offered expertise. Deepest condolences to her family.

So very sad and shocked to hear of the death of Sarah.
Sadly, I only started working with her over the past two years. But nevertheless, she made a great difference to my voice.
She was so interested in how the voice worked, and she embraced the new research and incorporated it into her teaching. Her methods of teaching never fell into a formula - she customised her approach to each individual voice.
The reason I asked Sarah, if she would teach me was after I heard her sing at an AESS concert. I thought, “If someone of Sarah‘s age can maintain her voice, and sing so amazingly beautifully, then there’s hope for an old singer like myself!’
Sarah and I shared a great love for our cats and we often swapped advice and stories about the antics of our beloved pets.

She died too tragically young with so much more to give. She will be greatly missed. Rest in peace , dear Sarah.

Marjorie Ouvry

Sarah and I had a five decades long acquaintance, which started at GSMD, encompassed my teaching Helen, at James Allen's Girls' School and came to fruition through our membership of the AESS.
Sarah was not only a fun person, a wonderful singer and a consummate musician but she was someone who gave total commitment to whatever she took on.
I am already missing her hugely, and AESS has lost a wonderful Chairman. What shall we do without her?
Dear Sarah, may you rest in peace.

I first encountered Sarah whilst working for ENO, covering the newly commissioned A dog's Heart by Raskatov. She and I were partners in crime as the rather unflattering 'Pleasant voice' and 'Unpleasant voice' of a lobotomised canine! She was fabulously generous as a performer and we had tremendous fun in the W. Hampstead rehearsal venue of ENO.

I have since continued to work with her as Chaiman of the AESS, judging several competitions that took place under her tenure, most recently this last spring. For her to no longer be here, giving energy to a new generation is very hard to absorb.
Love to all she has touched with her enthusiasm and passion.

Dear Sarah. We’ve known each other for over 50 years. I can’t process how anyone with so much drive, ambition, energy, enthusiasm and zest for life can have been taken from us so suddenly.
Rest in Peace.
Bron

Half a century ago, Sarah's singing made an unforgettable impression on me before we ever met - she was in the year above me at Guildhall, and for one term we were neighbours in Peckham. I'd just moved in - hadn't finished unpacking - when I heard her pure, warm voice in the bedsit next door, practising Purcell's "Bess of Bedlam" with unforced clarity, immaculate intonation, care for the text and a sense of compassion for "poor Bess in her straw". A masterclass through the wall. Later on, in a Chamber Choir concert, there was her brief but haunting solo in Holst's Choral Fantasia: "Man, born of desire, cometh out of the night..." delivered with confidence and integrity. I have no photos to share, but detailed and consoling memories of her singing are set securely in my mind's ear, and I'm sure it's the same for all her family, friends, colleagues and students. She will be much missed.

I learnt that Sarah had died a week ago just before the end of the Benslow Music course that she and I would have led together. We had worked together on the Musical Theatre course there and at Jackdaws in Somerset for the past six years. I had known of her distinguished career as one of our finest singers particularly in contemporary music and when,having met quite by chance through a mutual friend,she asked if I would be interested in sharing a musical theatre workshop at Benslow I enthusiastically said yes and we worked together ever since then which was the August of 2018. I feel very privileged to have worked with her for this short time. A lasting memory is of our last rehearsal together back in April for a recital we were to give together at the Thaxted Festival which sadly had to be cancelled because of her illness. She was in superb voice and as one of the items on the programme was something I wrote for her,to have heard her sing it was a memory I will cherish for many years. RIP Sarah and thank you for all those memories of our work together.

Sarah was the most amazing person. We were at Guildhall together, sang at the BBC and toured to China with the John Alldis Choir. In my photo Sarah makes friends with singers from the Beijing Philharmonic Choir.
We shall all miss her grievously.

The news that Sarah had died came as a huge shock and saddened me greatly, because she had a huge impact on my musical life. She brought out the voice that people had been telling me for years was within me if only I'd get some singing lessons - and I only went to her initially for a couple of lessons to try and fix a specific vocal problem. I ended up staying with her for about 12 years. Because of Sarah, I sang in numerous music festivals, gave lunchtime recitals, attended singing summer schools, ended up helping to run a music festival, achieved an LTCL in Singing, had the confidence to audition for one of the best chamber choirs in London, and made many many friends I otherwise wouldn't have met. She was a lovely person who still had a lot to give to music and her family, and she died too young.

I first met Sarah on 17th September 2021.

Since then, until her diagnosis in April this year that she was suffering from a brain tumour, I have enjoyed a coaching session with her almost every week but for the six weeks or so I spend in Iran every year. Even after that diagnosis she managed to “fit-in” some weekly coaching sessions for me, the last being on 29th August.

I think we got to know each other well over the three years since we first met - often enjoyed a “banter” during the course of her teaching; mutually enjoyed a few jokes; she even joined with me in song (albeit only a couple of times). I most certainly came to consider her as a friend. That she greatly improved my interest in music generally, my understanding of musical scores, and my choral abilities, “goes without saying”; her musical and tutoring talents as excellent as they were.

I shall greatly miss our weekly hour together (to put it mildly); not only for the music. At least I can still continue to listen to her singing by playing the recordings of her past performances - Her rendition of Quilter’s “Come Away Death” (one of the compositions she had me try) is particularly poignant now! Taking inspiration from the words of the Iranian poet Shahryar:

DEAR SARAH HAS NOT TRULY DIED - SHE LIVES IN OUR TEARS; SHE WILL LIVE IN OUR SORROW; SHE WILL LIVE EVERMORE IN THE RECORDINGS OF HER PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

DCS Member - Terence J.A. Jones

I first encountered Sarah when she was still a student at the Guildhall, but her coming into the Association of English Siingers and Speakers - of which I was previously honorary secretary - brought us together again, when she joined Michael Pilkington and me as editors of 'A Century of English Song', following the death of John Bishop. This had over the years rather lost impetus, due to other distractions, and I'm sure Michael won't mind me saying that it was Sarah who galvanized us into getting moving again. The original publisher (Thames) had suffered from John's death and eventually ended up in the Music Sales stable which, after much evasion. finally declared that it was not prepared to publish the final volumes of the planned series. (These were eventually published on behalf of the Association by David Good.) I admired Sarah's straightforwardness (particularly in the discussions with Music Sales!), even if it did sometimes result in friendly disagreement, but she was clearly the right person at the right time as chairwoman of the Association and will be a hard act to follow. Thank you, Sarah; may you rest in peace and rise in glory!

It was with sadness news that I received the news of Sarah's passing via the AESS. I had only met Sarah at AESS meetings and attended a couple of her performances at St. George's but I had great respect for her as a lovely person, great singer and musician. I was grateful for her warm and welcoming manner at our meetings. She will be greatly missed. Thankfully there are recordings and she will be remembered and enjoyed for years to come.

So many fabulous memories not only of our time in the BBC Singers together (did Sarah ever make a mistake?) but also when she sang for me in The Sixteen - her top "E" at the end of our recording of Poulenc's Figure Humaine is legendary . She would take a second, lean back slightly and just whack out this amazing note, thrilling every time! But Sarah was not only a fab singer, she was a fab person - so much fun and such a cheeky laugh. You have been taken from us far too early. We will miss you greatly. Harry xx

I was so shocked and saddened to learn of Sarah's death.
She was a natural communicator and made me feel so welcome when I became a member of the AESS.
She had the most impressive career and such a wide range of repertoire. I only knew her for a comparatively short time, but will miss her sense of humour and kindness. I shall be at the Funeral to bid a fond farewell. RIP dear lady.

I first met Sarah at a Morley College English Song day workshop. I liked her and the teaching so
much I asked for individual lessons which were marvellous. Together we prepared my first solo recital at Morley. Sarah worked with my daughter Zoe and many singing colleagues and friends. Sarah introduced me both to English Sond and to Sondheim. Fearless and inspirational with a delivery and voice to match Sarah was a mentor, friend and guide over many years. We had such fun in the lessons. In her different houses. And at her parties. And her voice, her pitch, the physicality of her singing will always inspire. Dear Sarah how I and countless others miss and honour your presence with us. Thank you for all the good times and your fortitude. Rest in Peace, a life truly well lived and all my love to her family that she loved so very much.

I met Sarah originally as a member of the BBC Singers and remember being overawed by her singing of a solo from Haydn’s Creation with BBCSO at a rehearsal. Such expressive singing and with such poise!
I never lost touch with her, and we had lunch earlier this year when she was on great form.
Her sudden death has been a terrible shock; she was taken from us far too soon. She was a great teacher and motivator and had so much more to give.

Dear Sarah, May you rest in peace . I think we first met when we both sang at Farm Street Church back in the 80’s.. and latterly it was such a pleasure to work with you at AESS as an adjudicator. You and your glorious voice will never be forgotten . Xxx Sue

Sarah in Skipton, somewhere she loved, with her first grandchild.