Sept./Oct. 2026 Cecelia Scholar: Sarah Connors

Clarinetist and bass clarinetist Sarah Connors recently obtained her master’s degree in Clarinet Performance at Temple University as a student of Paul R. Demers. Previously, Sarah earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory/Composition and Clarinet Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her musical mentors include Bixby Kennedy, Salvatore Macchia, Romie de Guise-Langlois, Michael Caudill, and Alfred Dentino. As well as teaching at Temple Prep, Sarah is on the faculty for the Antioch Music School and maintains an active […]
Tessa Ellis has been preoccupied with the sound of the trumpet since she first heard the instrument as a four-year-old. Inspired by a lifelong drive to create new and nuanced sounds, her work spans orchestral, chamber, and experimental music. Recent highlights include tours with Hans Zimmer Live, Star Trek: The Cruise, and performances with Seraph Brass, the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra, Kennett Symphony, and the Delaware Symphony. She is a founding member of the Arcana New Music Ensemble and frequently collaborates across

Tess Varley is a Philadelphia based violinist who performs with a number of orchestras and ensembles. She is currently Acting Principal Second Violin of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Delaware Symphony.
Arlet Tabares
Meghan
Praised by South Florida Classical Review for her “vivacious” playing, harpist Zora Evangeline is a dynamic and multi-faceted musician. She currently studies at Boyer College of Music at Temple University, where she studies with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to her studies, Zora has a vibrant freelance career. She frequently performs with professional orchestras across the nation including the New World Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Allentown Symphony, and Maryland Symphony, and has attended several prestigious music festivals including Orford
A Massachusetts native, Clarinetist Sarah Connors is obtaining her Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance at Temple University as a student of Paul Demers. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory/Composition and Clarinet Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying with Bixby Kennedy, Romie de Guise-Langlois, and Salvatore Macchia. She has participated in masterclasses with Steve Cohen, Alicia Lee, Philip Paglialonga, and Welsey Ferriera. Sarah can be heard on the album “Synchronous,” recorded by Greg Spiridopoulos and the UMass Wind