Sarah Younker is a French hornist based in Chicago. In addition to the orchestral, operatic, and chamber music experience of a traditional French hornist, Sarah has extensive theatrical experience, having performed for a wide variety of award-winning theater companies including Broadway in Chicago (Into the Woods US Tour), Drury Lane Theatre (Cinderella), Music Theater Works, Theo Ubique, Porchlight Music Theater, The Mercury Theater, and The House Theatre of Chicago. Sarah is currently on tour with Disney's Frozen (North American Tour).

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In 2024, Sarah joined the Sarasota Opera for their winter season playing third horn. She also played principal on Haydn's Infdelta Delusa, and will return for the 2025 season. Sarah has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera and the Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago. Sarah was principal and solo horn with Chicago Summer Opera for six years, playing a variety of chamber operas with works by Britten, Mozart, Puccini, Massenet, and more.

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Sarah held the position of second horn with the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra from 2021-2024, and was third horn from 2018 - 2021. Sarah is the principal horn of the JAM Orchestra. She has performed with many other regional orchestras, including the Omaha Symphony, New Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony, the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and the Northbrook Symphony.

 

Sarah can be heard on Mark Tremonti's album Christmas Classics New & Old. She can also be heard on guitarist Michael Kent Smith's forthcoming original jazz/crossover nonet album, as well as demo materials for Philharmonic Studios. Prevously, Sarah was an arranger and recording artist for Sonic Symphony and can be heard on a number of their trailers. Sarah has written and recorded for CollabTRAX and is sampled on their rock tune, “Stranger."

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Sarah leads, arranges, and performs with her chamber music group, Sarabande.

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In an effort to help artists and others in crisis, Sarah has performed and recorded for fundraising efforts on behalf of Actor’s Equity, Season of Concern, and The Beautiful City Project.

 

A creative and engaging teacher, Sarah’s students have regularly placed and participated in ILMEA at the state and district levels, area youth symphonies, summer music camps, concerto competitions, and other extracurricular music festivals and activities, as well as maintaining leadership roles within their school music programs and performing featured solos with their large ensembles. Sarah has held teaching positions at a variety of Chicago area schools including Elgin Community College, Downers Grove North and South High Schools, Glenbrook North and South High Schools, Hoffman Estates High School, and the Metropolis Center for the Performing Arts. She is a thoughtful adjudicator and sought-after clinician throughout the Chicago area. Sarah is a featured teaching artist in David Cutler’s book, The Savvy Musician. 

 

Sarah earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Horn Performance from the University of Illinois, studying under Kazimierz Machala. Sarah has learned an invaluable amount from her collegues on the job and on the road.

 

Sarah is an active member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 10-208.