General Information

Sarah O’Halloran is a composer  from Ireland, who currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area.  In 2015 she completed her Ph.D.  in Composition and Computer Technology at the McIntire Department of Music, U.Va. Before attending U.Va., Sarah received an M.A. in Sonic Arts from Queens University Belfast. Sarah also has a B.A. in Music and English and an M.Phil. in Musicology from University College Cork.  She has studied with composers including Matthew Burtner, Judith Shatin, Ted Coffey, Michael Alcorn, and Ron Quivila. Sarah has attended master classes and residencies with composers including Alvin Lucier, Louis Andriessen, Christian Wolff, Kaja Saariaho, Petr Kotik, and Mark Applebaum. She has also studied Deep Listening with Pauline Oliveros. 

Sarah’s music has been performed at international events including MATA Interval (New York), the International Computer Music Festival (New York 2010, Ljubljana 2012, Perth 2013), Gaudeamus (Netherlands), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK),  Ostrava Days (Czech Republic), and Sonic Circuits (Silverspring, MD). Her work has been played by ensembles including Dither, VERGE, Ensemble MAE, SEM Ensemble, orkest de ereprijs, Princeton Laptop Orchestra, and the New York Miniaturist Ensemble. In 2013/2014 Sarah was an artist in residence at GWU's Department of Music. Sarah also creates original music and sound design for theater, she has worked with companies in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area including Woolly Mammoth, Studio Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, 1st Stage, Rep Stage, and Mosaic Theater Company of D.C.

Download Sarah's bio photo here.