Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Dr. Sarah Herbert joined the faculty at Western Kentucky University as the Assistant Professor of
Trumpet and Jazz in 2020. Dr. Herbert teaches applied trumpet, trumpet ensemble, and directs the WKU
Jazz Band. She has previously held faculty positions at the University of Wyoming, the University of
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Miami University Regionals in Hamilton, Ohio.

Dr. Herbert’s recent performing career has been diverse and includes performances with jazz and
commercial ensembles, as well as orchestras and chamber groups including Orchestra Kentucky,
Western Kentucky University Faculty Brass Quintet, Evansville Philharmonic, Wyoming Symphony
Orchestra, and the University of Wyoming Faculty Brass Quintet. In the Cincinnati area she has
performed with the Fillmore Brass Band and Wind Ensemble, Washington Ave Brass Quintet, The Belairs
1950’s Show Band, The Casino Players Ensemble, Bach Chorale Singers, and the Richmond Symphony
Orchestra (Indiana). Additionally, she has played in numerous musical theater orchestras and performed
as a cruise ship musician for Norwegian Cruise Lines based out of Miami, Florida.

As a K-12 music educator, Dr. Herbert spent four years as the Director of Instrumental Music for The
Menaul School, an Independent School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In this position she taught band
and guitar for grades 6-12 and served as the Fine Arts Chair for the school. Dr. Herbert continues to be
actively engaged in secondary education as a guest clinician, adjudicator, and committee member for
the International Trumpet Guild Youth Awards.

In addition to teaching and performing, Dr. Herbert has created an innovative commissioning project
made possible with initial funding from the Presser Foundation’s Graduate Research Award. Three new
works for the unique instrumental combination of trumpet and guitar quartet have been commissioned
and performed at both the 2017 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania with
the Texas Guitar Quartet and at the 2019 International Women’s Brass Conference in Tempe, Arizona
with the Albuquerque, New Mexico based Rio Grande Guitar Quartet.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Herbert completed her Doctor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2017. She also holds a Master of Music and
Certification in Music Education from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet
Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.