Sarah Fisher

 Name: Sarah Fisher

Job role: Band Academy Facilitator

Work history: Sarah is a percussionist and pianist based in Gateshead, North East England. Sarah is a skilled community musician working across the country in a variety of settings, with people of all ages and abilities. Sarah has worked across the UK with a number of organisations, including; The Glasshouse Gateshead, Drake Music, Sonic Bothy,  North East Music Hubs, amongst many others.

Sarah's work predominantly includes facilitating music making for underprivileged young people and those with additional needs. She is also a keen performer. Most notable projects have included: drummer from the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Drummer at the UEFA Championship Final 2013 at Wembley, North East disability sports awards, National Lottery Awards 2019 (TV snippet). 

In 2017, Sarah received funding from Unlimited, in partnership with Sage Gateshead, and developed her own show 'TWITCH’ which combined music, disability and humour to showcase her developing artistic identity as a musician with a disability. Sarah has cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Following Twitch’s success, Sarah received Arts Council England funding to tour Twitch across the UK in 2018-2019.

When not performing or leading sessions as a musician Sarah works as a visiting lecturer at various universities in the UK - Sunderland, York St John, Bath Spa and Aberdeen University, teaching around community music and inclusion.

She facilitates Inclusive music training for organisations, schools, and charities and regularly presents at conferences and events around community music, inclusion and disability. 

Personal statement: My main role is leading the Band Academy, where we work at developing our musical skills on individual instruments and as a collective learning new instruments such as learning samba and music technology. I enjoy the diversity of the group and how each individual brings their own passion for music into the sessions; whether that is sharing a favorite song or playing their first choice instrument. Sessions are filled with laughter and I love seeing participants try something new and push themselves to try things out of their comfort zone. I look forward to being able to share their hard work and original works at performances and seeing what the other academies have been up to. 

Telephone: 07523 697245

Email: sarah@thetwistingducks.co.uk