"Nice relaxed phrasing. You really set the mood and deliver the storyI like the fact that you take risks, some very creative work." --Trish Colter, Vocal Department Head, Humber College
Sarah Hiltz comes from an eclectic musical background, with experience in performing, composing and recording. Growing up she performed often with her father, Bob Hiltz, a locally well-respected musician and recording engineer who owns and runs Eyrespace Studios. Together, they appeared in churches, cafs, and pubs around Chatham, ON, Sarahs hometown performing folk, gospel, classic rock, bluegrass, jazz and pop. At the age of 12 Sarah decided to pick up the guitar and began writing almost at once. Her father taught her three chords and from there she learned on her own for three years before going on to briefly study classical guitar, and later jazz, with a private teacher.
Throughout and after high school, Sarah played both solo gigs and duets with her father. As her vocal talent began to win her recognition, more local artists began to seek her out as a studio vocalist and as an addition to live shows.
After taking a year off after high school, Sarah began her formal vocal training in the widely renowned Jazz Voice program at Humber College in Toronto. Though she found city life and the classroom setting constricting, she had a successful first semester and decided to return home shortly after Christmas with a collection of new originals and a few lessons learned (including how not to choose an apartment).
But new things were ahead. In the spring of 2005 Sarah married fianc Jordan Michaelis who is also a musician (a drummer). A month later, the couple moved to Kingston, ON, where they are currently residing.