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Sarah Chick in final round public performance for Ossa Music Prize 2023© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has benefitted my development as a musician and blessed me in my academic and musical pursuits throughout my life,” says Sarah Chick, who is in her third year of classical piano performance at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music.
As a six-year-old, Sarah was eager to start playing the piano like her mum, Rebecca Jack, who was her very first teacher.
After a couple years, the family moved from Queensland to Tasmania, to a congregation where an older gentleman, by the name of Don Newton, directed the music for the congregation and the choir. Being a more experienced musician, he offered to take on Sarah as a piano student and insisted on teaching her free of charge.
“His influence on my future was profound and significant; I became excited by my progress; and my weekly lessons brought him so much joy,” recalls Sarah. “His service to me was a testimony of his dedication to the Lord and he taught me how sharing my talents can bless others.”
Sarah learnt how to play the hymns and would often play prelude and song accompaniment for Young Women’s meetings.
Brother Newton taught her how to conduct music and let her practise in sacrament meetings. He also began teaching her how to play the organ, and Sarah later received more lessons from his daughter, Cecily Watson, the congregation’s organist at the time.
Sarah sang in the congregation’s choir under Don’s direction. Soon, he had her accompanying the choir instead, playing more difficult arrangements on the piano.
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Sarah Chick, who seeks to bless others through sharing her musical talents© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“I gained so many essential skills as a pianist, thanks to his encouragement, and learnt how I could serve the Lord in a musical capacity. I will forever be thankful for his kindness and guidance, in matters musical and spiritual. When he passed away, I was privileged to play at his funeral, and I hope to carry on his legacy of service.”
Sarah now often conducts music or plays for ward and stake meetings, accompanies the ward choir or stake musical items, and teaches many young students. “I love being able to say ‘yes’ with confidence to musical assignments at church and serving others when they need a pianist, singer, or conductor.
Under Don’s tutelage, Sarah began to appreciate classical and sacred music and slowly realized she could choose music as a career pathway. By the end of high school, she studied piano more seriously with a new teacher, was awarded an ‘Associate in Music, Australia’, and decided that she wanted to study music at university.
In December 2020, Sarah had been accepted into the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music and received a Conservatorium of Music scholarship that would cover the whole expense of her degree and provide her with a living allowance.
“This was an enormous blessing, and I knew that this had come from the Lord,” she said.
“Being a member of the Church has not always been easy,” recalls Sarah, “but the Primary and Young women’s program has taught me from a young age to develop my talents and consecrate my time and talents to the Lord. The For the Strength of Youth guidebook helped me make clear choices about what music I would listen to, what kind of events I would attend, and which activities to avoid on the Sabbath, such as competing in music competitions.”
Sarah testifies, “I have often felt the Holy Ghost confirm truths to me while listening to uplifting and spiritual music, especially while listening to [the Church’s] youth theme songs and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
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Performing at FSY in Melbourne 2019© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“I know that keeping the commandments brings me an abundance of joy and peace in my life," she says. “I have been able to avoid many challenges by striving to make righteous choices, and I have seen many blessings that have come because of it, my music scholarship among them!”
While studying for a Bachelor of Music degree in classical piano performance, Sarah recognised how singing at church had helped her develop better aural skills, and how regularly accompanying the choir – often sight-reading music on the day – had greatly improved her ability to sight read music.
“These skills have been invaluable in my tertiary study and in beginning to take work around Hobart as an accompanist,” says Sarah. “I have been blessed with many opportunities to grow, including my job as repetiteur for the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra’s Junior Chorale, and I have had many answers to prayers when I have been nervous about performing or learrning music in a short time.”
Sarah also enjoys the support of her husband, Jordan Chick, to whom she was married in the Sydney Australia Temple on 18 January 2023.
“He has supported me in all my endeavours and even moved from Darwin, Northern Territory to live with me in Hobart where I am studying,” says Sarah. “We met the year before our marriage at a YSA camp in Tasmania and it was love at first sight!”
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Jordan and Sarah Chick on their wedding day at the Sydney Australia Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints© 2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Sarah notes her husband’s commitment to her by the way he serves others. “Jordan served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia from 2019 and continues serving others as a ward mission leader and young men’s advisor.” Read more about him here.
Now in her third year of study, Sarah won the Ossa Music Prize for 2023, where she received $2500 and will undertake a fully funded tour around Tasmania.
“I often reflect on how the Lord has blessed every step of my musical journey so far,” she says, “and I look forward to what the future holds.”