Verso University: Behind the Notes: Classical Music from the Inside Out

Dates: Tuesday, September 10, 17 & 24 (Brooks Place)

Time: 10-11 am

Registration Fee: $25

Series Information

This special Verso University listening & lecture series invites classical music lovers and the classical-curious alike to experience beloved works in a whole new way. Join classical soprano and lifelong violinist Sarah Hawkey as she guides listeners through the rich history, stories, and musical language behind treasured masterworks, tracing ideas and themes across time periods and composers.

If you've ever felt that “lit-up” feeling hearing a favorite symphonic theme, a beloved aria, or even one unforgettable chord, you already know the joy of getting behind the notes. Along the way, participants hear favorite pieces with fresh ears, share in the kind of close-listening conversations musicians have with each other backstage, and come away noticing layers in music they've long loved but never quite heard this way before.

Sarah's enthusiasm for classical music, instrumental and vocal alike, is infectious. You'll leave each session feeling energized the next time you hop in the car and turn on the classical station or head to your next concert!

No musical background is required, just curiosity and an appreciation for great music.

About the Instructor

Classical soprano Sarah Hawkey invites audiences into the heart of classical music with Behind the Notes: Classical Music from the Inside Out, a listening and lecture series that unpacks the musical complexity, stories, history, and expressive depth behind beloved works of the classical repertoire. Known for bringing warmth and clarity to complex ideas, she bridges the worlds of performer and listener, offering fresh insight into how classical music lives and breathes for today's audiences. Sarah has performed with organizations including the New York Philharmonic, LA Opera, and Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, with international appearances at the Salzburg Festival and Verbier Festival. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, on NPR, WNYC, WMNR, and PBS Great Performances. She had the pleasure of being in the original cast of Ellen Reid's opera p r i s m, produced by Beth Morrison Projects at LA Opera and the PROTOTYPE Festival, which was awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Music.

A specialist in Baroque performance, Sarah's credits as soprano soloist include Bach's St. Matthew Passion and B Minor Mass and Handel's Messiah. She is a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study Bach's life and work with leading scholars in Germany, deepening her engagement with his vocal music in historical context. Her debut solo album, featuring the music of 17th-century Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi, is underway. Sarah is also a champion of contemporary classical music, having premiered new works by living composers, as well as numerous choral premieres with the Grammy-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street. Through her Fairfield County voice studio, located in Weston Center, Sarah mentors the next generation of singers. She is also the host of The Aligned Singer, and has led educational programs and workshops at The Juilliard School, Princeton University, William Paterson University, and the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

About Verso University

• Classes are usually structured as a consecutive series.
• Class size is often limited.
• Each series has a one-time registration fee covering all classes in the series.
• Registration is mandatory.
• The Westport Library wants to ensure that all interested students are able to participate in Verso University courses. If the registration fee is a barrier to entry for you, please contact JConnon@westportlibrary.org.

Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.

Verso University programs are made possible by the generous support of the Nancy J. Beard Lifelong Learning and Education Fund. 

Refund Policy

Programs, prices, and dates are subject to change. Tickets are non-transferable between events but may be passed along to another attendee. All sales are final. Refunds are issued only if The Westport Library cancels an event outright. In the case of a postponement or reschedule, refunds are not guaranteed provided the event takes place within 12 months of the original date. Refunds, when applicable, are issued in the original form of payment.