Sarah Wagner, bassoon

Appearing in A New Beginning on Sunday 14 March

Sarah Wagner (nee Ferguson) was born in 1983 and was raised in regional Queensland. She moved to Brisbane after high school to pursue her dream of studying music. Sarah was awarded a Bachelor of Music from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2004, having studied under Leesa Dean. She then completed a Master of Music Studies in 2006, also at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, under the guidance of John Cran (Sydney). Sarah received awards for Academic Excellence for both years of her postgraduate study.

Previously, Sarah has performed as a soloist with the Queensland Conservatorium Divertimenti String Orchestra, led by Alan Smith (associate concertmaster of the The Queensland Orchestra) and with the Queensland Youth Chamber Orchestra.

Sarah is the Principal Bassoonist with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra and also performs regularly with the Queensland Philanthropic Orchestra and the Gold Coast Symphony Orchestra. She has extensive orchestral experience and has performed with The Queensland Orchestra, Queensland Youth Symphony, Queensland Pops Orchestra, Brisbane Symphony Orchestra, the Bangalow Festival Chamber Orchestra and Australian Army Band Brisbane. Sarah has also toured internationally to Germany, Italy and Singapore with various ensembles.

A dedicated chamber musician, Sarah is a founding member of the Zephyr Wind Quintet, which maintains an active performance schedule around Brisbane. One of Sarah’s career highlights was the opportunity to perform a challenging selection of chamber music in collaboration with some of Australia’s most renowned musicians at the Bangalow Music Festivals in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, Sarah’s woodwind quintet Turbine Winds won the prestigious Gertrude Langer Award from the Queensland Arts Council, which resulted in the group undertaking an extensive tour of regional Queensland.

After several years teaching bassoon and working as a freelance performer, Sarah moved into arts administration and management. Having worked for the Southern Cross Soloists, Australian Youth Choir and Queensland Arts Council, Sarah currently works in Cultural Development for the Moreton Bay Regional Council.