Sarah Comer

Sarah Comer grew up learning from generations of old time fiddlers here in the Pacific Northwest, and for 22 years has delighted in passing that unique flavor of Northwest fiddling —where southern style hoedowns are played beside Canadian reels, Irish jigs, and Scandinavian waltzes—on to her students. This melting pot music and its connection to traditional folk dancing inspired her to start a community dance band class in 2014, where folks could experience the music in its natural habitat. 11 years later, the class is still going strong and has grown to include a second band (The Raccoon Carnival) known around the Seattle contra dance circuit for their wild arrangements and multipart harmonies.  Outside of teaching, Sarah has performed music of the 1800s for living history museums (including the Job Carr Cabin and Fort Nisqually), serves on the board of the Seattle Folklore Society, and is the Fiddle Community Coordinator for Northwest Folklife.