Sarah Willis
Sarah Willis MBE is an internationally renowned French horn player. She has been a member of the Berlin Philharmonic since 2001 and is also an acclaimed TV and digital presenter. Travelling the world with her horn, she brings the best of classical music to a global audience
Sarah Willis was born in Maryland, USA. She began playing the horn aged 14 at school and then attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department. She went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where her teachers included Anthony Halstead and Jeff Bryant. Sarah later studied with Fergus McWilliam in Berlin, where she became 2nd Horn in the Berlin State Opera under Daniel Barenboim in 1991. During this time, Sarah performed with many top orchestras worldwide as a soloist and in various chamber music ensembles.
In 2001, Sarah Willis joined the Berlin Philharmonic, becoming the first female member of the brass section. She is involved in many of the Berlin Philharmonic education projects and especially enjoys creating and presenting their Family Concerts.
Sarah is passionate about music education and makes full use of digital technology and social media to reach audiences worldwide. Sarah’s contributions to classical music were recognised at the highest level in the UK when she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours List for services to charity and the promotion of classical music.
