Sarah Shin - Interview
In front of the red light … with SARAH SHIN! Watch the Full Interview here.
When Sarah speaks about music, it’s with the clarity of someone who knows her purpose. As a flutist, educator, performer and recording artist, she juggles a multitude of roles with ease—each informed by intention and a deep sense of responsibility.
Sarah has taught at Princeton University for four years, witnessing firsthand how her student’s evolve. “It’s been amazing seeing that growth. You can really witness their resilience kick in as they move through the years.” She adapts her teaching around their lives, even lightening the workload during midterms, striking a balance between discipline and empathy.
She’s intentional about the kind of space she creates with her students. “A lot of them aren’t used to one-on-one time with a professor. I try to use that time to not only teach music but to help them develop professional habits—like responding to emails and communicating with clarity.” These life skills, she believes, are just as important as technique. “If you’re not intentional or clear in how you explain your musical choices, how do you expect the performance to come across clearly?”
That blend of artistry and mentorship extends beyond the teaching studio. Sarah moves fluidly between performances in Europe, chamber concerts, world premieres, and long days in the recording studio. “It’s about compartmentalizing,” she says. “On stage, you have to own your sound. In lessons, you have to be open and ready to grow.”
Her 2022 debut album with Sony Classical featured the Mozart flute concertos—repertoire she didn’t choose, but embraced. “I wrote my own cadenzas for it,” she shares. “If it’s going to be my first album, I want my voice in it.” Her upcoming album, Sori (Korean for “sound”), is more personal. “It’s kind of a sonic autobiography,” Shin explains. Each piece ties back to formative moments in her development as a musician, from high school lessons to graduate study with Jeanne Baxtresser of the New York Philharmonic.
Perhaps the most powerful current in Sarah’s journey is her commitment to accessibility. “Music is a universal language, yes. But studying music? It’s not accessible.” Shin recently commissioned a new solo piece from composer Juri Seo—with accessibility in mind: no specialty flutes. “I wanted every student to be able to play it. Not everyone can afford a piccolo, let alone an alto or bass flute.”
She’s direct about the industry, too. “There’s still a sense that certain musicians guard their position rather than lift others up. I’m trying to be part of changing that—whether it’s speaking to audiences about my pieces at concerts or supporting young composers who haven’t had a shot yet.”
It’s clear that for Sarah, being a musician isn’t just about excellence—it’s about education, equity, and empowerment. As she continues to commission new works, perform internationally, and guide the next generation of flutists, she does so with the conviction that music is both an art and a tool for change.
Catch Sarah next with the Emissary Quartet as they premiere a new piece by Nicky Sohn, or in Princeton, Savannah, or Pasadena this fall.
Johnson Creative is proud to collaborate with Dr. Shin in her artistic endeavors.
Find Sarah:
