Sarah Comer

Sarah Comer began fiddling in the summer of 1999. She joined the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association and it brought her to into contact with inspirational Old Time players with powerful rhythmic drive and personal style, like Gil Kiesecker and Carthy Sisco. A few years later when her father, Emmett Comer, decided to pick up the guitar again, they met Jim Ketterman who would teach them about the wild and wonderful music of his home state of West Virginia. In 2001 she began studying with Stuart Williams whose innovative and inspirational teaching brought Sarah's music to a whole new level of performance and understanding. Stuart continues to be a major influence in her playing (and teaching), along with Phil and Vivian Williams.

Since then she and her dad, Emmett have played in fiddle shows and folk festivals across the state, including performances at Northwest Folklife Festival and Benaroya Hall, and in 2005 and '06 they composed and recorded music for two short films entered in the Tacoma 72 Hour Film Fest. In 2008 Sarah was featured at Northwest Folklife on both the Fiddler's Showcase concert  and in Raisin' a Ruckus: A Showcase of New Old Time Bands.  Sarah has also provided music for countless historical re-enactments for Fort Nisqually and Fort Steilacoom living history museums, as well as the Ezra Meeker Historical Society.

Though still primarily Old Time players, Sarah and Emmett are also students of Irish music and try to get out to a session now and then.

Sarah teaches private lessons as well as teaching a group fiddle class at Pierce College, and plays in the contradance band. Click here to visit Sarah's website...

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