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), Disney's Frozen (North American Tour), Music Theater Works, Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago, Theo Ubique, Porchlight Music Theater, The Mercury Theater, and The House Theatre of Chicago. 

 

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

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Sarah is 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,” set for future release. 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.

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Sarah leads, arranges, and performs with her chamber music group, Sarabande, and the Artistic Animal Collective.

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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. Sarah is the horn instructor at Elgin Community College. 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 is an active member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 10-208.