Sarah Stiles

Born in England, Sarah Stiles (Royal Academy of Music) moved to The Netherlands in 1987. Her work as composer covers a vast range of styles and includes publications for music education, popsongs, instrumental music and film music. Among the new publications to have appeared this year are the Mini Quartets published by De Haske and The Sound Project published by EPN.

As composer/violinist, Sarah began a career in Classical music but later decided to follow a rather different path in styles ranging from Pop and Jazz to improvisation with groups such as The Amsterdam String Trio, Music Theater Orkater, La Pat, Frankie Douglas and Sunchild, Tröckner Kecks, Cumara and World Music. She has also recorded for CD, radio and TV.

Sarah's individual approach to improvising and creativity in music has resulted in a number of exciting music pubications with enthusiastic reactions from the international press. All her music publications are presented in an innovating, fun and approachable way, often including improvisational elements. Because improvisation, and other creative ways of making music, does not depend on a player's ability or experience, the music is well suited to instrumentalists of all ages and standards, both professional and amateur. Education has always been an important part of Sarah's work and her infectious passion to keep the event of learning itself as inspiring and as fresh as possible inspires her writing.

Sarah now works mainly as a composer, writing for film and video as well as giving workshops and consultations about the application of improvisation in education to teachers and music colleges. Sarah Stiles also writes articles for international music magazines.