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About

"My mission as a choral conductor is to advocate for inclusion on the podium, within the choral ensemble, and in the choir folder."
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Biography

Sarah Kaufold is an experienced conductor, singer, and music educator who advocates for inclusion on the podium, within the choral ensemble, and in the choir folder. As Founding and Artistic Director for Consonare Choral Community, a nonprofit organization created in 2018 to build community through choral music in Connecticut, Sarah directs:  Voices of Concinnity, a professional vocal ensemble of singers from diverse backgrounds; Choir Matrix, a community choir for upper voices; and Consonare Community Choir, a mixed choir that collaborates with local instrumental groups. Consonare has collaborated with many arts entities across Connecticut and Voices of Concinnity has performed for state and regional conferences for the American Choral Directors Association, at Carnegie Hall, and released their first album through Navona Records in 2023, Awaiting Golden Light, which has received a Gold Medal from the Global Music Awards. Voices of Concinnity is also a 2025 National Finalist for The American Prize in Choral Performance, Professional Division. Serving as Executive Director for Consonare, Sarah has secured several grants for the organization in the last few years as well as received two state grants as an individual artist. More information on Consonare is linked below.

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With extensive choral conducting and leadership experience, Sarah has directed choirs for singers of all ages, range of abilities, and in several settings, which include: church choral programs for children and adults; teaching middle and high school choral and general music classes; conducting collegiate choirs as a grad student and adjunct faculty; directing adult community choral programs and a professional vocal ensemble.  Outside of choral leadership, she has conducted operas for Hartford Opera Theater, taught Choral Conducting at UConn and graduate choral literature at The Hartt School, and mentors emerging conductors through a choral internship program she created with Consonare. Her philosophy on inclusive practices in choral settings and programming has earned invitations as a choir consultant in addition to presenting interest sessions at choral and music education conferences.

 

Sarah is currently pursuing a doctorate in Choral Conducting as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Connecticut. She holds Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from University of Connecticut with extensive graduate study in choral conducting from California State University, Los Angeles.  Conducting mentors include Iris Levine, Donald Brinegar, and James Spillane, as well as conducting masterclasses with Beth Willer, Charles Bruffy, Simon Carrington, Craig Hella Johnson, and Dennis Keene. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona where she also began her studies as a music educator. 

 

She has sung professionally throughout the Los Angeles and New England area and currently sings with professional chamber choirs Voices of Concinnity and Collegium Ancora. Sarah enjoys photography, traveling, and hiking with her family. 

Presentations

Using vocal acoustics to improve choral balance and belonging

Regional Music Professional Development | Ledyard High School, Connecticut | 2024

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Conducting as Art: transform choral sound through hands-on practice

Connecticut ACDA Fall Conference | University of Connecticut | 2024

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Your place in the choir: acoustics, standing positions, and belonging

Connecticut ACDA Fall Conference | Norwich Tech, Connecticut | 2024

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Inclusive Choral Formations

AGO Northeastern Connecticut Conference | Mansfield, Connecticut | 2023

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Perpetuation of "boy sopranohood": implications in cultivating an inclusive choral space

Diverse Pathways to the Podium (Girls Who Conduct) | Virtual | 2021

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Music Sheets

Choral Music Commissions and Premieres

"It May Be" composed by Brian Jones

Written for Voices of Concinnity | premiered 2022

listen here - on our album "Awaiting Golden Light"

"How splendid shines the morning star" arranged by Gregory Brown

Written for Voices of Concinnity | premiered 2023

listen here

"Witch-Wife" composed by Melissa Dunphy

Commissioned for Choir Matrix | premiered 2021

listen here

"The Breadth of Blossoms" composed by Cheryl Engelhardt

Commissioned for Voices of Concinnity | premiered 2020

listen here - on our album "Awaiting Golden Light"

"Desperatar" composed by Karen Siegel

Part of Commission Consortium

CHORAL COMPOSER AMPLIFY PROJECT | 2022

 

"Tipitin" arranged by Raul Dominguez

"The Dusk of Thee" - Lillie Harris

"Shadow Reel to Last Breath" - Jessica Rudman

To the heart that knows fire - Carolyn Quick

 

All songs were premiered by Voices of Concinnity

listen here

Consonare Choral Community

I am honored to serve as Founding Artistic Director and Executive Director of a nonprofit arts organization called Consonare Choral Community.  To learn more about this community organization with a mission to build community through choral music in Connecticut and more about the work I engage in, please visit the Consonare website.

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© 2025 by Sarah Kaufold

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