about

Sarah Rossy is a mythical sonic creature of sorts, with a voice that is colourfully chameleonic yet vulnerably human.

Bouncing between her hometown of Tio’tia:ke (Montréal), New York City, and Berlin, she combines influences of jazz, experimental music, and interdisciplinary movement practices into her work for a truly unique result. As a composer, she has a keen interest in experiential processes which traverse through a feminist lens and nurture the ecosystems of artistic community. Recent excursions include: studying with Meredith Monk, pursuing voice/movement research at The World is Sound (Berlin), composing for the Montreal Contemporary Music Lab, exploring her ethnic heritage at the Arabic Music Retreat, and attending multiple residencies at Banff Centre for the Arts. Sarah is a recent (and first Canadian) finalist of the Ella Fitzgerald International Voice Competition, and her research has been graciously supported by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec, Conseil des arts de Montréal, and the Socan Foundation. She holds both a B.Mus and M.Mus from McGill University, where she was mentored by composers John Hollenbeck and Christine Jensen. In 2019, she released a debut EP, The Conclusion (Florafone Records), and is anticipating the release of a full-length album in 2021.

Photo: Jonathan Arseneau

acknowledgement

I acknowledge that the majority of my artistic pursuits on Turtle Island (North America) are situated on the traditional territory of Indigenous nations, specifically, the Kanien'kehá:ka Nations, in Tio’tia:ke (Montreal). I acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous people whose footsteps have marked this territory on which peoples of the world now gather, create, and live. 

I acknowledge the histories of slavery, the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and people of African decent; whose creativity, ingenuity and ancestral knowledge was responsible for the birth of jazz. I pay my respects to this body of practice in which I now share.

I commit to amplifying, celebrating, and uplifting voices of marginalized race, gender, ability, class, and other historically oppressed identities in my creative pursuits. I dedicate my career to fighting against systemic oppression through education and action.

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The Conclusion

Sarah Rossy

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One year prior to this recording, one of my dearest creative supporters passed away in a tragic accident. The composition “The Conclusion” was written in their honour, and the memory of their spirit gave me the confidence to open my heart once again and release this music.

This series of songs was composed through a major death and rebirth of personal identity. It began with a long term relationship with another artist who I deeply respected and admired. As time progressed, I found myself rotting on the inside from this person’s judgement, belittlement, and privilege. The systemic inequity in this industry became more painfully visible than ever. I was aware of sexism, yet felt ignorantly removed from it until this point, when I experienced it so intimately, face to face with my heart and passion for music. For the first time, my strong and innate drive to create and, at times, live, disappeared.

After a life-changing trip to Berlin, challenging convention with interdisciplinary performance in a supportive FEM-positive environment and having space to open the conversation about these issues, I found that the antidote to this toxic patriarchy existed in the connections formed with other womxn and people of marginalized identities in the arts. A few months later, I was awarded the Eleanor Stubley Recording Prize to collaborate with the incredible sound engineer Jenn Nulsen in her final days in Montreal before moving to New York, and a gender-balanced team of incredible artist-friends.

So, here it is folks, “The Conclusion”: a milestone in the light of personal rebirth, a reminder that endings are also beginnings. Thank you to the beautiful people involved in this healing process.

- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -

Gratitude to head engineer Jenn Nulsen for going above and beyond, and to assistant engineer Noëlle Byer, whose love will officially form the ultimate sound wizard marriage duo in 2020.

Thank you to Jon Kaspy for his mountainous mastering and masterful mountain friendship.

Thank you to the beautiful musicians who played on this EP, whose artistry goes beyond words: my one and only Claire, Scott, Tomo, Noémy, Zander, Ethan, Eric, and the members of the vocal ensemble.

Thank you to my family: Joanie, Steve, Jonathan, whose support extends to summits immeasurable, and whose love has only fortified through life’s challenges.

Many thanks to Christine Jensen and Martha de Francisco for their support in the grant application process, and to McGill University for supporting this creation.

In loving memory of Patrick Dupuis-Dufresne.
There will never be another you.
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    Lowly Soul 4:00
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    Judgement 3:00
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    Close to You 4:53
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    Sad Song 3:10
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    Empty Spaces 4:34
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    The Conclusion 5:39
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    To Be Silenced 5:01
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teaching


* DUE TO COVID-19, ALL TEACHING WILL BE ONLINE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. *

I have been teaching for over 10 years, and dearly love connecting with diverse curious minds! All ages, identities, and levels of experience are welcome. If you have ever been curious about the following topics, send me a message below! 

  • Vocal technique (sensitivity to tone colour, body resonance, finding an authentic sound) 
  • Piano (pop, jazz, self-accompaniment, rudiments, technique, applied theory) 
  • Improvisation (across disciplines!) 
  • Music composition & songwriting (any level welcome here!) 
  • Western music theory & ear training 
  • Somatic practices & mindfulness 
  • Professional artist mentorship, with support in: grant-writing, audio production/release, creative process, band leadership, music industry/marketing, and artistic philosophy! 
  • Speech work: accent coaching for non-native English speakers, speech delivery & vocal hygiene for frequent voice-users, including lawyers, teachers, and interviewees! 

Some kind words from current and former students:

"Sarah was amazing at helping me become comfortable with my own voice. It was surprisingly daunting, and yet I felt prepared and equipped to jump in. Sarah is empathetic, incredibly articulate, and so encouraging." 
-Natalie, 24

"My experience with singing, song writing, music improv was great! Sarah's friendliness, experience level and creativity means students are learning and improving in a fun environment!"
-Sarah, 29

"My experience taking lessons was amazing! It was so much fun and always I felt like I could be myself and play my music without judgement! We worked on learning music theory, playing the piano and being creative with singing and song writing."
-Student, 17

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    For all booking, teaching, or other inquiries, send a message below.