Ms. Sarai Clayton is entering her 9th year teaching private music lessons, where her focus has been beginner violin, voice and piano (all levels) and ages. Some of her most recent accomplishments include co-hosting a Student Composition Recital in 2017, 2 virtual recitals in 2020, and one student collaboration with the NC Symphony “One State, One Score” virtual event in 2020. Among her student recitals, she has been invited by the Royal Conservatory of Music to the Southeast Regional recital on numerous occasions with her qualified, performing students.
Since Covid, Ms. Sarai has been passionately connecting her students to the local music community, including school orchestras, Triangle Youth Philharmonic Association, Capital City Girls’ Choir, All State opportunities, NCMTA piano and vocal festivals, just to name a few!
Her teacher certificates of recognition include the 3 and 5 Year Teaching Awards, State Award Violin Level 2, State Award and Gold Medal in Piano Prep B, 2019 State Award in Violin Prep, 2018 State Award in Voice Level 3, State Award in Voice Level 2. Her performing experience has also included the N.C. State Fair Folk Festival, where her family’s bluegrass band won the Bascum Lamar Lunsford Trophy in 1998.
Other choral and theatrical experiences include Meredith College Girls Chorale, Christian Youth Theatre in Raleigh, NC, High School Girls’ Ensemble, N.C. Symphony performances at Meymandi Hall, Wake Tech Community College Ensemble and Female Singers, Liberty University Choir in Lynchburg, VA. She currently performs with the N.C. Master Chorale and N.C. Symphony.
She has continued her musical education with courses from Berklee, NAFME (National Association for Music Educators), MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) as well as masterclasses and workshops. She is a professional member of MTNA, NCMTA and NAFME.