Sally Barr
Sally Barr’s "life story" is that of a classical violinist/violist, pianist, mandolinist, jazz vocalist, producer, educator, and publisher/editor with a list of credentials that reads like the art section of a medium-sized city’s newspaper. As a Jill of these trades, master of each, Barr has become a sought-after and diverse stage and studio performer, a real "try anything once" kind of musician. A delighted transplant to California, Barr’s pursuit of the stage began in New York at age three with a modern dance recital then quickly on to piano by age five and violin by age eight. Early on, she was exposed to an array of the arts and knew that she had to sample as much as she could.
Though she continued her dance instruction until the age of 13, Sally knew that music was her greatest passion. Sealing the deal, she received her Bachelor’s in Music Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and her Master’s from the University of California. Her studies and early career brought collaborations with such notable artists as Gilles Apap, Daniel Phillips, Heiichiro Ohyama, Greg Fulkerson, Ron Copes, Joel Smirnoff, Darol Anger, Matt Glaser & Mark O’Connor. Barr has twice had the honor of an invitation to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Tanglewood Music Festival, where she had the opportunity to work with Maestri Seiji Ozawa, Sir Simon Rattle, and Robert Spano. Sally had the great fortune to be invited to the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, where she had several poignant sessions with violinist Shmuel Ashkenasy.
Ms. Barr has performed and taught in a variety of musical settings in the US & Europe, (including the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, Opera Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Symphony; at Austin, TX hotspots The Off Center, Flipnotics & The Scottish Rite Theater in Washington and Oklahoma, New York & New England, France, Austria & Germany) featured as a violinist, violist, as well as performing on the mandolin in classical and non-classical settings. In the mid 1990's Sally was on the string faculty at Westmont College, served as a faculty and board member with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony for over a decade, and was a faculty member at the 2006 Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute. She has twice performed at Live Oak Festival: with Mark O’Connor in 1998 and with the Gove County String Quartet in 2008. Sally has also performed with Donna Summer, Sarah Brightman, Brian Wilson and The Moody Blues.
Just as her tastes cannot be contained to just classical, jazz, pop, etc., neither can her bow be contained to four strings. One of Barr’s many instruments is a five-string violin, commissioned from master luthier, James Wimmer. She performs with the five string in multiple commissioned works by James Connolly, in addition to fulfilling it’s rock and jazz capabilities whenever possible.
Still, this accomplished musician cannot be content to let her fingers do the singing.
After 20 years as a professional instrumentalist, Sally made her jazz vocal debut in 2005 at Direct Relief International’s (DRI) benefit for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. She has received vital instruction from renowned contralto Victoria Hart, and since her premiere, has performed with her band, The Sally Cats, all over Southern California.
For nearly four years Sally was co-owner, producer & performer with MamaJama Productions, based in Austin, TX. While there, the company worked with many of Austin’s finest classical, jazz and tango musicians as well as commissioning works from composers Rob Deemer, P. Kellach Waddle, James Connolly, poet Brian Turner & film maker Alejandro Torres. Torres’ films for MJP have been broadcast repeatedly since 2005 in California and Texas.
Back home in California, Sally continues in her favored multi-tasking vain through her production company, Vox and Fiddle, with several performances and the 2009 release of the The Sally Cats’ debut CD “Wonderful Day” The album features a brilliant big band comprised of master musicians Jim Connolly, Jon Nathan, Nate Birkey, Tom Buckner, Brad Rabuchin, special guest Gilles Apap and is complete with a luxurious string section to ice the cake.
Sally also performs and records with the popular Americana circus-music band, the Gove County String Quartet and the mighty and eclectic jazz-fusion outfit, Headless Household (Household Ink Records).
Ms. Barr has organized and performed at several benefits for Direct Relief International since her vocal debut. Among them, in 2007 she orchestrated two separate benefits in an effort to raise money for the adventure of a lifetime: a trip with DRI to Kenya and Uganda. She raised over $16,000 for that week’s voyage, which DRI and their partners were able to turn into almost $600,000.00 in material aid to deliver to multiple clinics in the regions of Kisumu, Kenya & Soroti, Uganda.
In August 2009, Ms. Barr embarked on a new journey, that of publisher and editor of Santa Babrara's new monthly magazine: "MUSIC! The Sounds of Santa Barbara". The journal focuses on the wide spectrum of musical talent that exists in Santa Barbara, CA, in every genre. From the concert halls to the clubs, from Kindermusik to the universities, "MSoSB" truly runs the gamut of Santa Barbara's vivacious music scene.
Visit: http://www.musicsantabarbara.com to learn more!!