Sarah Devoyon started her cello studies at the Espoo Music Institute with a 5-year-old’s bright
twinkle in her eye. After 12 years of studies there, she then continued her journey at the Music
Education department of the Sibelius Academy. She got her Bachelor’s Degree in 2017 and will get
her Master’s Degree in the fall of 2021. In addition to her Music Education studies, she also performed her
Master’s recital in cello in the spring of 2019.
Sarah is also an active musician in various groups and orchestras. She takes part playing the cello
(acoustic and electric), piano or guitar, singing and also providing arrangements if necessary. She
also plays the bass and drums and has had lessons in viola and clarinet.
As a teacher, Sarah has taught cello in the Espoo Music Institute and is currently also teaching at
the Vantaa Music Institute’s Sistema Tempo-orchestras. She bases her teachings on her students’
interests and often uses mental images to support the understanding of different playing
techniques. In her free time she likes to make arrangements for various groups (particularly
multiple cellos), go on long walks, play Harry Potter games on her Playstation 2 and hang out with
her little bunny, Pietari (Peter).
Sarah teaches cello in Finnish, English, and French at ISM Finland. To book a trial lesson with Sarah, please get in touch.
Q&A
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆?
I was born in Paris, France but I’ve lived in Finland for 22 years. My main instrument is the cello but I can also play the piano and I’ve had singing lessons. I’ve also had lessons with guitar, electric bass, drums, viola and clarinet. I’ve had gigs with all of these instruments plus the violin and double bass (no lessons with these two though).
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆?
I started at the Espoo Music institute in 2002 and I stayed there until I matriculated in 2014 and got in the Music Education department in Sibelius Academy. I got my bachelor’s degree there in 2017.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰?
My parents are both musicians so me and my brothers were encouraged to choose an instrument at a young age, and it just became my thing.
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴?
Hard to say. This is the only thing that I’m actually really good at! But if something, I would say a physical therapist.
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻/𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿?
I really admire the artists Eminem and Ed Sheeran. I really enjoy learning lyrics to rap music and Eminem has pieces that speak to me. Ed Sheeran’s music feels very down to earth and it’s very pleasant to sing. In the classical department, composers Debussy and Sibelius. The harmonizing in theis pieces are genius. And speaking of harmonizing, at this moment I’m also really into Joe Hisaishi’s music in the Studio Ghibli films.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲?
Hard to say, there have been so many. One hazy memory I have is from when I was 8 years old and was performing in the big stage Tapiolasali in the Espoo Cultural Center for the first time. The theme was Ave Maria and it was translated in Finnish “Maaria aaveen Aaria” (The Aria of Maaria the ghost). I had these purple pajamas that had ghosts on them and I joked with the idea that I would put them on for the concert. Then my mom encouraged me to do it so I did! I can’t say that I remember it clearly but I do remember doing it and to this day I’m very proud of it.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁/𝗻𝗼𝘁-𝘀𝗼-𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 (𝘂𝗻𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹) 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀?
I’m good at picking up dance choreography! Not that it looks very graceful… But the steps are usually right!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲?
Chocolate. It’s not always a “guilty” pleasure but sometimes it gets out of hand…
𝗧𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲?
Both. Coffee in the morning, tea to calm down in the evening.
𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀?
Bunnies! I have one at home named Pietari/Peter/Pierre (his name in Finnish/English/French) and he’s quiet like a cat but needs attention like a dog.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁?
France. I love visiting family and hearing and speaking the language since I always lose it a little bit when I don’t speak it here.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻?
Spring. When it gets warmer but not too warm and the sun starts to come out for the first time in months.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱?
It really depends on the day! Some days my favourite food is sushi, on others it’s pasta or burgers or pizza or noodles or a salad or a wrap/tortilla. You might say I’m an omnivore.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀?
I like to watch Netflix/Disney plus/HBO Nordic, pet my bunny and play Harry Potter-games on Playstation 2. I also like to go on walks and dance lessons and hang out with my friends.