Sarah Hoag

Junior Orchestra Conductor

Maine ASTA Board Member-Treasurer

Sarah Hoag grew up in Alfred, Maine and began Suzuki violin studies at age four with Margaret Hopkins in Waterboro, Maine and continued studies with Ronald Lantz of the Portland String Quartet. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College, NY, 2013. At Ithaca, Sarah studied violin with Nicholas DiEugenio, and performed with the Ithaca College Symphony and Chamber Orchestra conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Meyer. 

Sarah has served as the 6th-8th grade orchestra director and general music teacher at Saco Middle School since 2015. She currently has an active private teaching studio in the Biddeford Pepperell Mill and coaches Thornton Academy string chamber groups. Sarah frequently works as a freelance violinist and regularly performs with the Deep Blue C Studio Orchestra of New Hampshire and Lakes Region Symphony. She has conducted several district festivals throughout Maine. 

In past summers, Sarah served as assistant director of the Portland String Quartet Summer Workshop held at St. Joseph’s College in Standish, ME and was a participant in the workshop. 

She was a previous SMSC camper and counselor and has been the Junior Orchestra conductor and a chamber music coach since 2018. Sarah currently serves on the board of the Portland String Quartet Society as Education Chair and serves as treasurer/board member of Maine ASTA (American String Teachers Association).

When she’s not teaching or performing,  Sarah spends her time with her boyfriend Adam, and their 3 cats - Harley, Poco, and Xavier Gus Gus. You can also frequently find her hiking, camping, at the beach or 4wheeling.