Sarah Thornblade

Sarah Thornblade has been described as “a marvelously versatile violinist” (Santa Barbara News),  whose playing has been described as “ rapturously winning” (Los Angeles Times). She is an avid chamber musician and is the associate principal second violin of the LA Chamber Orchestra, as well as a member of the Eclipse Quartet, an ensemble dedicated to performing 20th century and contemporary music. The quartet, which recently received an Aaron Copland Fund recording grant, has recorded for the Tzadik, New World, Cold Blue and Bridge recording labels.

Thornblade is a former member of the Denali Quartet and a former founding member of the Arianna String Quartet, which was a grand prize winner at the Fischoff National, Coleman and Carmel chamber music competitions. She has also performed with Camerata Pacifica, Jacaranda Music and Auros Group for New Music (Boston). Thornblade has performed throughout the country and abroad at festivals including the Tanglewood and Spoleto music festivals; the Look & Listen and Oregon Bach festivals; and the Norfolk, Steamboat Springs, Banff and Portland chamber music festivals. She has collaborated with artists such as Gilbert Kalish, Jeffery Kahane, William Winant, Beck, Andres Cardenes, Caetano Veloso, Randall Hodgkinson and Warren Jones.

Thornblade is an active recording musician for film and television and holds degrees from Indiana University and Northern Illinois University and studied with Miriam Fried, Mathias Tacke and Shmuel Ashkenasi.