2024 Virtual Adjudicators

Sarah Velasco

Upper Strings

Sarah Velasco

Canadian-born violinist Sarah Velasco has performed across North America, Asia, and Europe and is currently residing in Switzerland where she is a soloist and chamber musician.

She has worked with world renowned artists including Shmuel Ashkenazi, Renaud Capuçon, Ilya Kaler, Krzysztof Wegrzyn, and Pinchas Zukerman.

Sarah graduated with her Bachelor of Music Degree (USA) Magna Cum Laude, her Master de Concert with the Domaine Musique et Arts de la Scène de la HES-SO prize and Master de Soloist at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne. Her professors included Victor Danchenko, Erika Raum, Aaron Rosand, Sergiu Schwartz, Mark Skazinetsky, and Yuuki Wong.

For three years, Sarah toured biannually with internationally acclaimed violinist Renaud Capuçon, with whom she has performed in some of Europe's most prestigious festivals. She also performed in venues including Les Arènes d'Arles, La Grange Au Lac, Evian, Grand Théâtre, Aix-en-Provence, Schloss Elmau, Krün, Graffenegg Auditorium in Germany, Beau- Rivage Palace and Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad, Switzerland. Her recent chamber performances have also included collaborations with The Verbier Festival, Zermatt Festival, and Crans Montana Classics.

Sarah's most recent tour in April 2024 her took to France with performances in cities including Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and Paris. She also appeared as the soloist for the most recent Youth Olympic Games, and appeared on national television in France and Switzerland for a number of concerts and television series on M6.

In addition to her performances, Sarah took on the role as co-artistic director for L'Orchestre du Cœur in 2022.