Sarah Comfort Reed, Soprano, is a musician and teacher in the New Haven, Connecticut area.  She is highly regarded for her rich soprano color and versatility, with broad experience in early music and contemporary styles alike.  Ms. Reed is a frequent soloist in a variety of choral ensembles, including the Yale Camerata and Chamber Chorus under the direction of Marguerite L. Brooks, and Composer’s Choir under the direction of Daniel Shaw.  As a soloist, Ms. Reed has been featured in works such as David Lang's Pulitzer Prize winning little matchgirl passion, James Whitbourn's Annelies, and Arvo Pärt's Passio, Le Roi David by Arthur Honegger, Mendelssohn's  Hear My Prayer, and J.S. Bach's  Der Herr denket an uns (BWV 196).   In recent years, she has had the opportunity to sing as guest soloist with the Nash Baroque Ensemble in solo cantatas All'ombra di sospetto by Antonio Vivaldi and Ariane et Bachus by Michel Pignolet de Montéclair.  In December 2016, Ms. Reed joined the New Haven Oratorio Choir, under the direction of Daniel Shaw,  as soprano soloist in Fauré 's Requiem.  A seasoned performer in 20th and 21st century art song modalities, Ms. Reed has performed solo recitals in New Haven and Daytona Beach, Florida, featuring song cycles such as Try Me Good King by Libby Larsen,  Too Few the Mornings Be by Ricky Ian Gordon, and Francis Poulenc's Banalités.  In addition, she currently serves as a chorister in the renowned choral music program at Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven , under the direction of Walden Moore, and as vocal coach for the Yale Camerata.

 

During her time in Connecticut, Ms. Reed has combined her love of choral music and teaching, in distinct learning environments.   Ms. Reed is the Chorus director at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven  and formerly the Chorus Director at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT.  As a member of the Voice Faculty of the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, Ms. Reed conducts the Children's, Youth and Adult Choruses and teaches private voice lessons.   From 2010-2017, she was a member of the Music Faculty at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, in Hartford, CT, directing the GHAA Chorale, teaching music theory, music history, classical solo repertoire, musical theater and pop music ensembles. 

 

Over the years as a private voice teacher, Ms. Reed has taught students of all ages.  Healthy, resonant vocal technique and maintenance through the study of art song or musical theater repertoire are the general goals for her students.  Please see the Voice Studio page for more information on private lessons with Ms. Reed.

 

Growing up in central Missouri, Ms. Reed was involved in choral music from an early age, singing in children’s choirs within church, school and community.  She was inspired by a high school choir director to pursue teaching music at Northwest Missouri State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Vocal Music Education.  In her time at NWMSU, she studied voice with Dr. Patricia Schultz.  Ms. Reed is also a graduate of the University of Hartford’s Hartt School, with a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance, where she studied with Joanna Levy.