Biography

Recognized as one of CBC Music’s 2023 “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” flutist Sarah Pollard is Assistant Principal Flute and Piccolo of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Prior to this she was Principal Flute of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and Second Flute and Piccolo of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Sarah is an alumna of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the Orchestra of the Americas, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute at Whistler and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed as a substitute musician with the former Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra.

​

As a chamber musician Sarah has performed with numerous ensembles, a highlight of which was performing Boulez’s infamous Le marteau sans maître in the Ottawa Chamberfest’s New Music Now Festival. She has also participated in several other chamber music festivals across Canada, including Banff’s Evolution: Classical festival directed by the Gryphon Trio, and the Bathurst Chamberfest in New Brunswick. 

​

A passionate teacher, Sarah teaches flute students across Canada and maintains a private studio both online and in-person. She has been invited to adjudicate at the Lakehead Festival of Music and the Arts, and has coached the flutists of the Durham Youth Orchestra as well as the Québec Youth Wind Ensemble.

​

Sarah is a graduate of The Glenn Gould School, McGill University and the University of Toronto, where she studied with eminent Canadian flutists Susan Hoeppner, Carolyn Christie, Nora Shulman and Peg Albrecht. In masterclasses, music academies and private coachings, Sarah has had the opportunity to work with renowned flutists Denis Bluteau, Jennifer Gunn (piccolo), Jeffery Zook (Piccolo), Emmanuel Pahud, Leone Buyse, Jeanne Baxtresser, William Bennett, Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson, Demarre McGill, Kelly Zimba, Joanna G’froerer, Henrik Heide, Agata Igras, Robert Langevin, Gwen Klassen (piccolo) and Claire Guimond (Baroque flute).