Cellist

Sarah Nail

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About Sarah

Experience the soulful sounds of a world-class cellist, bridging the classical and contemporary with virtuosity and passion
Cellist
Dundee
Public liability insurance of £1 million

Sarah Nail is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. She began her musical studies on the violin at the age of three before switching to cello at the age of six. She attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts and the renowned Interlochen Arts Academy. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from DePaul University, where she studied with Steven Balderston of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Nail was quite an active member of the arts community of both Birmingham, Alabama, and Chicago, Illinois. She was a frequent member of The Chicago Composers Orchestra from 2016 to 2019. In addition to being a member of the CCO, she also taught underprivileged students within the Music for Kids program, in Chicago. Ms. Nail received her Masters from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she studied with Alison Wells and Martin Storey. Since moving to Glasgow in 2019, she has played in workshops with the Scottish Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and the RSNO. Ms. Nail has also worked and performed with the Scottish Ensemble and the Brodsky Quartet. She has studied music in Italy, America, and the UK and has also participated in studio recording and film projects. In 2022, her piano trio performed at Wigmore Hall, in London, for the Cavatina Intercollegiate Competition and won the Audience Prize. Ms. Nail is now an Instrumental Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation as well as a string instructor for Dundee City Council and The Glasgow School of Music. In her free time, she enjoys freelancing and is an active chamber musician in her community.

Sarah
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5 out of 5
6 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Sarah's Reviews

From Encore customers:

JM
Jess M
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Sarah was wonderful and very patient and helpful in the lead up to the wedding. She played beautifully and as the weather was so spectacular she adapted easily from a change of location to the courtyard. Would highly recommend.

CC
Caroline C
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Sarah was wonderful and really made our wedding day so special

From other customers:

EM
Edyta M
2 years ago, for a Concert in Glasgow
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

My name is Edyta and I am a classical concert pianist. I’ve known Sarah since 2018. We met participating together on the same music festival. Sarah's performance has made a huge impression on me and since then we have been performing together on various occassion. In July 2022 Sarah was commissioned to play on a 5 concerts within a week. That included piano trio repertoire, as well as cello and voice pieces arranged especially for that project. She has been a very reliable, passionate and committed member of our team, as well as a brilliant cellist during the project. She is very skilled and quickly adaptable to any changes on the day. Her diligence and open-minded personality make her a unique musician. Apart from 2022 July concerts, Sarah and I have recorded a CD with music of Piazzolla, Sibelius and others. The whole process has run very smoothly, thanks to Sarah for her fantastic work on cello and professional approach towards a CD recording commitment. Sarah's skills as an artist are very special in my opinion. She has a very warm tone of sound, impecable timing control, beautiful phrasing ability and a sharp, adjustable mind while performing any chamber music concert. Apart from being a absolutely fantastic cellist, Sarah is a great arranger. She writes well for both cello and piano, focusing on instrument's connection within harmonies. I have recently hired Sarah for future summer concerts, will include some of her arrangements.

EM
Edyta M
2 years ago, for a Concert in Glasgow
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

My name is Edyta and I am a classical concert pianist. I’ve known Sarah since 2018. We met participating together on the same music festival. Sarah's performance has made a huge impression on me and since then we have been performing together on various occassion. In July 2022 Sarah was commissioned to play on a 5 concerts within a week. That included piano trio repertoire, as well as cello and voice pieces arranged especially for that project. She has been a very reliable, passionate and committed member of our team, as well as a brilliant cellist during the project. She is very skilled and quickly adaptable to any changes on the day. Her diligence and open-minded personality make her a unique musician. Apart from 2022 July concerts, Sarah and I have recorded a CD with music of Piazzolla, Sibelius and others. The whole process has run very smoothly, thanks to Sarah for her fantastic work on cello and professional approach towards a CD recording commitment. Sarah's skills as an artist are very special in my opinion. She has a very warm tone of sound, impecable timing control, beautiful phrasing ability and a sharp, adjustable mind while performing any chamber music concert. Apart from being a absolutely fantastic cellist, Sarah is a great arranger. She writes well for both cello and piano, focusing on instrument's connection within harmonies. I have recently hired Sarah for future summer concerts, will include some of her arrangements.

Read all 4 reviews
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Sarah's Song list

Classical:
Canon in D
Bach Cello 6 Suits
Flamenco
Songs and Poems
Suit for Solo Cello
Waltz Op 39
The Swan
Song without Words
Requiebros
Swan Lake
Flower Dance
Dance Macabre
Valse Romantique
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Trumpet Voluntary
Bridal Chorus
Air
Siciliene
Water Music
Elegie
Apres Un Reve
Arioso from Cantata
Wedding March
Salut d’amour
Minuet in G - Beethoven
Pie Jesu - Faure
Pie Jesu - Weber
Ave Verum Corpus
Spring from Four Seasons - Vivaldi
Winter from Four Seasons
Jupiter
Pavane
Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
Trumpet Tune & March - Clarke/Purcell
Polovtsian Dances - Borodin
Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
La Réjouissance - Handel
Rondo - Breval
Danse Ristique
Humouresque
Minuet - Boccherini
Hornpipe from Water Music
Hymns/Traditional:
Caledonia
Highland Cathedral
Auld Lang Syne
Sly Boat Song
Josefin’s Waltz
Archibald MacDonald
Amazing Grace
Be thou my vision
Greensleeves
All Things Bright And Beautiful
Morning Has Broken
Lord Of The Dance
Vow To Thee My Country
Give Me Joy In My Heart
How Great Thou Art
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Psalm 23; The Lord is My Shepherd
Londonderry Air - Traditional
Greensleeves - Traditional
Film/TV/VideoGames/Musicals:
Red Dead Redemption
Halo
League of Legends
Assassins Creed
God of War
Beauty and the Beast
Memory from Cats
Tale as Old as Time
Let it Go
Gabriel’s Oboe
People Will Say We’re in Love
When You Wish Upon a Star
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
A Whole New World
I See the Light
Colors of the Wind
Santa Fe
Memoirs of a Geisha
The Misty Mountains
The Shire
King in the North
How to Train Your Dragon
Lord of the Rings
The Pirates of the Caribbean
Narnia
Game of Thrones
Westworld
Black Heart
All is Hell that Ends Well
Music from Twilight
The Last of the Mohicans
Braveheart
Tomb Raider
Ashoken Farewell
I Dreamed a Dream
Batman
The Holiday
Love Actually - Glasgow Love Theme
When You Wish Upon a Star
Pop/Rock/Classics:
My Heart Will Go On
Lovely
River Flows in You
Take on Me
Love Story
Marry You
All You Need is Love
Nothing Else Matters
Don’t Stop Believing
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
First Day of My Life
Now That We Found Love
Tiny Dancer
Viva la Vida
Wildest Dreams
Sweet Child O Mine
Africa
Blank Space
Stay with Me
Young and Beautiful
Yellow
Clarity
Hallelujah
May it Be
Live and Let Die
Wellerman
Parisienne Walkways
Shame
Devil Inside
A Thousand Year's
Hallelujah
The Sound of Silence
You Raise Me Up
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Phantom if the Opera
Paint it Black
Cinema Paradiso
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Eleanor Rigby
When I’m Sixty
Make You Feel My Love
All of Me
Lay Me Down
True Colours
Love me Tender
Halo
Somewhere only we know
Wonderful World
We Found Love
Viva La Vida
Time After Time
I Can’t Help Falling in Love
Marry You
It Must Be Love
With or Without You
More Than Words
I Will Always Love You
Jazz & Blues:
Just Passing By - Trad./jazz
Sometime Maybe - Trad./Jazz
Summertime - Gershwin
Love Me Tender
Fly Me To The Moon
Moon River

Sarah's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£75
Up to 1 hour£120
Up to 2 hours£150
Up to 3 hours£200
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Clients appreciate several aspects of my performance, including technical skill, adaptability, reliability, and passion for music. I have been praised on my ability to quickly adapt to changes and my professional approach to commitments

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

I have had the opportunity to perform in a variety of venues across the UK including churches, castles, concert halls, and other locations. Whether it is for a classical chamber music concert or a wedding gigs these experiences have allowed me to develop my skills as a musician and to adapt my performance style to suit each venue.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

I have been greatly influenced by Yo-Yo Ma, who is a cellist that I deeply admire. Not only is he an incredible musician but he is also a kind and down-to-earth person who inspires others with his passion for music. I am particularly inspired by his fearlessness in exploring different styles of music and expanding the boundaries of classical music

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

One of the most high-profile gigs that I have had the honor of performing at was in 2022 when I had the opportunity to play in Wigmore Hall. It was an incredible experience to perform on such a prestigious stage, and it allowed me to showcase my skills as a musician in front of a discerning and appreciative audience.

Do you have different line-up options?

I do offer different line-up options to suit the needs of different events and projects. Whether you are looking for a solo performer, duo, trio, or quartet, I can provide you with a range of options to choose from. Each line-up has its unique sound and vibe, so we can work together to find the best fit for your specific requirements

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

As a professional freelance musician, I understand that schedules can change. If your timings change after booking me, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can work together to find a new time that works for both of us. I will do my best to accommodate any necessary adjustments to ensure that your event or project is a success.

How much time do you need to set up?

At least an hour prior to event starting

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Absolutely! Feel free to select any music from the playlist, and don't hesitate to make personal requests for songs that you would like to be added.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

I will bring all of the equipment I need

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

I am willing and happy to learn any specific pieces of music requested by clients.
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Film / TV music, Musical theatre, Opera, Christmas, Contemporary Christian, Traditional church music, Folk, Pop, Covers, Rock, Classic rock
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Private event, Wedding, Virtual event, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Arranger, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Examiner
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