Sarah Secrist is a fourth-year student at the University of Georgia in Athens. She is currently studying music therapy and gerontology, with a goal to one day provide music therapy services to older adults in assisted living or hospice care.
Sarah was inspired to pursue geriatric music therapy by her grandmother who suffered from dementia. She remained connected with her family through music until her passing in 2020. Sarah hopes to help others connect with their loved ones through music therapy.
She is returning as a drum major for the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band as well as the Band Captain for the season. The band traveled with the football team in January for the National Championship, and she received the special opportunity to conduct the band as they pulled ahead in the fourth quarter. This is a memory she will never forget.
She is also the President of Sigma Alpha Iota- Iota Zeta, the international music fraternity chapter at UGA. She acts as an Ambassador for the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and is the Secretary for the Music Therapy Student Association. On top of being a conductor for the band, she plays trumpet and studies voice. She is part of UGA’s Musical Theatre Certificate program and loves performing on stage whenever she can. She is honing her guitar and piano skills for her major and loves learning new instruments.
Sarah hopes her story inspires others to set goals and stick with them. Anyone can dream, but it takes hard work, perseverance, and kindness to make them come true!
Check out her heartwarming story below:
