Sara Gorman

Sara Gorman is a bassist, educator, and composer originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and currently based in Los Angeles. Growing up on the Peninsula, Gorman has participated in Stanford Jazz Workshops as a student and staff member since 2016, finding many of her mentors and collaborators there over the years. She was also a member of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars and CASMEC All-State Jazz Band.

Studying under the guidance of Professor Roberto Miranda at UCLA where she is earning her bachelor’s degree in Global Jazz Studies with minors in Ethnomusicology and Visual & Performing Arts Education, she has also studied Ghanaian drumming, Indian Tabla, Balinese Gamelan, and free/collective improvisation.

In her time at UCLA she was honored with a Gluck Klezmer fellowship, and given the opportunity to teach and perform in senior centers and elementary music classes in LAUSD.

With her band Garden Party she has performed at venues such as The Lodge Room, Brick and Mortar, and the Shabang Music Festival. Recording and gigging throughout California, her style is versatile with music rooted in earnest emotion and expression: Jazz, R&B, Soul, Motown, Pop, Rock, Punk, Alternative/Indie, and Free.

Gorman has worked with choreographers composing music for dancers as well as visual artists collaborating on sound art installations and performances.

In her free time she is also a DJ for UCLA Radio with her weekly show Kitchen Sink and spins/mixes vinyl from her collection, largely Funk, Disco, Soul, and World.

She is currently applying to Master’s programs for Music Therapy.