Sara has had the privilege of studying with prominent bassoonists such as Doug Spaniol, Gretha Tuls, David Chatwin, Stefano Canuti, Peter Whelan, and William Ludwig. She has played in masterclasses for bassoonists such as Bram van Sambeek, Ole Kristian T. Dahl, Matthew Wilkie, John Clouser, Will Short, and the bassoonists of the Berlin Philharmonic. She has also collaborated on projects and in concert with the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic, and the Academy of Ancient Music at Cambridge. Recent orchestral engagements include the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, the Evansville Philharmonic, and the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico. 

As a solo artist, Sara has been a part of numerous professional recordings, including for the Kaleidoscope Orchestra (Manchester), the Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra, the Jacobs School of Music, and, most notably, the premiere Naxos recording of Alfred Cellier’s opera Dorothy with maestro Richard Bonynge and the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra. She holds a deep love for new music and has worked with composers like Thea Musgrave, George Lewis, P.Q. Phan, and Hollywood composer Christopher Young. Sara was a featured soloist in the Royal Northern College of Music’s 2018 New Music Festival, in which she performed Anthony Gilbert’s “Dark Singing, Dancing Light” for solo bassoon and strings. Recent projects include premieres by George Lewis and Don Freund with the Indiana University New Music Ensemble, the premiere of Aaron Travers’ “There are still wild places” for ensemble and video, and a commissioned piece for flute, clarinet, and bassoon by KiMani Bridges in honor of the Bloomington Alumnae chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota’s 60th anniversary. 

Sara completed her Doctor of Music degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in May 2023. Her capstone document, a set of performer’s guides for Dai Fujikura’s three solo bassoon pieces, discusses how performers can approach the contemporary techniques within the pieces and how teachers can implement contemporary techniques into undergraduate curriculum. Sara was invited to present this work at the 2023 International Double Reed Society Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. 

When she’s not fussing over reeds, Sara loves traveling to Europe, reading Kurt Vonnegut, cooking, scuba diving, and going wine tasting. 

Visit Dr. Sara Erb online at