SARA STALNAKER is a native of Portland, Oregon, where she began her cello studies at the age of seven. In addition to being the cellist of the Providence String Quartet, she is a member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and was previously a member of the New Haven Symphony. Sara holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.
Her teachers have included Norman Fischer, Peter Rejto, Hamilton Cheietz, Denis Brott, Fred Zlotkin, and Desmond Hoebig.

Providence String Quartet credit: John Foraste

Anchored by the permanent residency of the Providence String Quartet, Community MusicWorks builds sustained learning and mentoring relationships between children and professional musicians in the West End, South Side, Elmwood, and Olneyville neighborhoods of Providence, Rhode Island.

Community MusicWorks provides violin, viola, and cello lessons at community centers every week of the school year. There are also bi-weekly Musical Workshops, concert trips for entire families, Community Performance Parties, Providence String Quartet concerts and demonstrations, and Phase II, a discussion and activity group for teens. Aside from a $10 registration fee, all programs--including instruments--are free to participants.

As the quartet-in-residence for Community MusicWorks, the members of the Providence String Quartet teach violin, viola, and cello lessons to 65 youth, support the social development of their students through mentoring, and create community events for entire families.