• “a strong, perky soprano...colourful, challenging and witty. It brought the house down. There’s a talent there for the irreverent.” — Classical Source

  • “exquisite subtlety..airy flexibility…a powerful performance” — EarRelevant

  • "expression and finesse" - The Observer

  • "magnificent" - the Arts Desk

  • “the crystal clear tones of the Soprano soloist Sarah Dacey floated above the rich instrumental textures with a fluent lyricism.” — Derby Telegraph

Sarah is a versatile performer with interests covering a wide array of art forms and musical genres. She thrives on diversity of style, designs programmes of exciting contrasting material and is known for her interpretations of contemporary repertoire, commissioning and premiering new works. Recent solo performances include Wigmore Hall, Dartington Music Festival, Gaudeamus Festival (NL), Klangspuren (AT), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, King’s Place and The Night With Festival (NI & SCT). She has performed live on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4 and been broadcast on Classic FM, WNYC (US) and Deutschlandfunk (DE). 

Solo works written for Sarah include ‘(it looks like someone lived there)’ (2022) and ‘Vestige’ (2020) by Naomi Pinnock (who was awarded the Composer Prize 2022 by the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung). ‘Ctrl’ by Laurence Osborn, composed for Sarah, autotune pedal and large ensemble was premiered at HCMF and has now been released as a double EP on Coviello Contemporary. Three new commissions for Juice Vocal Ensemble and electronics - ‘Goddess Awake’ by Gazelle Twin, ‘Not a Creature of Paper’ by Olivia Louvell and ‘Birth of Venus’ by Nwando Ebizie - are to be released on The Night With record label later this year. Other notable performances include the solo soprano role in the London premiere of Claude Vivier’s 'Glaubst du an die Unsterblichkeit der Seele' with the London Contemporary Orchestra and the Qatari premiere of Gavin Bryars’ 'The Adnan Songbook' with members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in Doha.

Operatic and theatrical work include Opéra de Baugé (‘Orfeo ed Eurydice’), the Lost Theatre (‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’) and Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival (‘The Rake’s Progress’). Appearances at the groundbreaking Tête à Tête Opera Festival include ‘The Hidden Valley’ (Richard Barnard/Operasonic), ‘Tales of Our Fathers’ (Park Music Co.), ‘Stupid Cupid’, ‘Module 471’ & ‘Cupboard Love’ (The Operatists). Theatrical performances for children include ‘Dot, Squiggle and Rest’ (Royal Opera House/Polka Theatre) and ‘Butterfly Brain’ (Wigmore Hall). As part of the Royal Opera House’s ‘Black History Month’ programme of 2020, Sarah performed in the ensemble for Hannah Kendall’s thrilling chamber opera ‘The Knife of Dawn’, streamed live on the ROH YouTube channel. Promenade music installations include 'Signal’ at Latitude Festival (Strijbos & Van Rijswijk) and ‘On the Circulation of Blood’ (Belinfante/Folkestone Triennial). Recent theatrical work includes working as Singer/Composer/MD for ‘Rutherford & Son’ at the National Theatre (directed by Polly Findlay) and as Musician in ‘Macbeth’ at Shakespeare’s Globe (directed by Abigail Graham). Research and development performances include Laura Bowler’s ‘Gold’ (Riot Ensemble) and ‘The Unknown Goddess’ (Ursula’s Arrow).

Sarah is a member of UK contemporary music group Riot Ensemble who perform regularly around Europe. Described as “volcanically creative” (The New Yorker), “the supergroup of top soloists playing new music” (The Guardian), and “Always impeccable; Entrancing and highly seductive” (The Times), Riot Ensemble have given around 250 World and UK Premieres by composers from more than 30 countries. Their discography includes releases on HCR/NMC Recordings and Coviello Classics, their recordings have been played on BBC Radio 3 and Deutschlandfunk and in 2020 they were awarded the Ernst von Siemens Ensemble Prize.

Sarah loves to perform and collaborate with other singers and is a member of three vocal ensembles - Juice Vocal Ensemble, Vocastrales and Ursula’s Arrow. Sarah is also a very experienced consort singer performing with the BBC Singers and Philharmonia Voices. She records regularly for film and TV and in groups such as Synergy Vocals and Reel Vocals. Sarah has provided backing vocals for Aphex Twin, Nick Cave, Anna Calvi, Heritage Orchestra and London Contemporary Orchestra. 

Sarah is a Senior Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire and Director of Education for Riot Ensemble. She has delivered workshops in vocal performance, writing for voice and composition at the Royal Academy of Music, Royal Holloway, City University, Royal Welsh, Manchester University, Royal Northern, Royal Scottish, Aberdeen University, Trinity Laban and countless others.