Photo: KAL CINEMA 2025
““Thompson’s (music is)...something for which there’s no word other than ‘beautiful’””
Australian composer and pianist Sarah Elise Thompson (b.1996) creates delicate, flowing harmonies and dreamlike textures in her music, inviting listeners into her contemplative sound world. Her compositions – often reflective and meditative – have a flowing quality that transports listeners into a peaceful, hypnotic state; exploring our deepest emotions through grief and joy and everything in between.
Following her successful debut album self centre (2021), Sarah’s latest single wings (out Friday 27 June), is an inspiring, uplifting work for solo piano, capturing the feeling of finding courage and strength after experiencing loss.
Sarah studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and has received commissions from ensembles such as The Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne, Ensemble Offspring, PLEXUS, The Song Company and the Australian Youth Orchestra, with premieres at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, and Carnegie Hall.
Her music has been premiered and performed for audiences around Australia, and internationally in the US, UK and Europe.
Sarah is an associate artist with the Australian Music Centre and is currently a resident composer at Church St Studios.
Sarah is currently completing a new commission for solo violin and electronics, premiering in Fall 2025 for US violinist Nicholas Bentz.
Her new EP, Eternal Light, is set to be released later this year.