Sarah O'Brien joins Wakefire on flute and tin whistle 

Some of you may have noticed a new yet familiar face that made an appearance in our Socially Distant Thyme video. That wasn’t a one off event– we’re pleased welcome Sarah O’Brien to the band! Look to see Sarah, along with the rest of the band in upcoming events!

 Sarah has been a musician ever since they handed her a recorder in elementary school. Part of an Irish-American family, she’s had that Celtic sound in her blood from the beginning. Around age twelve she picked up the flute, studying under Holly Clemans for a number of years. As a high school student she sat principle flute and sang with the choir, played in EMU’s Honors Band, and earned a boxful of medals at regional and state MSBOA festivals. She went on to study music at Western Michigan University. Her time there was spent in theatre pit orchestras, small ensembles, KLOrk, and eventually as principal flutist for the University Symphonic Band. A few sidesteps and time hops later, she left the classical concert hall behind and added tinwhistle to her repertoire. A quick shift from classical to folk saw her join the Kindling at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. It turns out that audiences that stomp, clap, and dance are REALLY fun to play for, and she’s thrilled to get to do so with Wakefire!

Come catch us online or at our next show (whenever we can have in-person shows again) and welcome Sarah O’Brien to the band.