Sadie Harrison is a UK- based composer known particularly for the socio-political aspects of her music-making with works challenging stereotypes of marginalised peoples, celebrating their creativity and individuality. For several years, Sadie pursued a secondary career as an archaeologist. Reflecting this interest in the past, many of her compositions have been inspired by the traditional musics of old and extant cultures with cycles of pieces based on the folk music of Afghanistan, Lithuania, the Isle of Skye, the Northern Caucasus and the UK. She has been Composer-in-Residence with Cuatro Puntos (USA), Kunstler Bei Wu Sculpturepark (Germany), and Composer-in-Association with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. Her symphonic work Sapida-Dam-Nau for the Afghanistan Women’s Orchestra was premiered at the Closing Concert of the World Economic Forum, Davos in 2017. Sadie’s music has been performed in Carnegie Hall, Tonhall Zurich, Sydney Opera House, Vilnius Philharmonie, Royal Festival Hall, London, featured on international films and documentaries, also released to critical acclaim on Naxos, Prima Facie, NMC, Cadenza, Sargasso, Toccata Classics, BML, Divine Art/Metier, and Clarinet Classics:
Observer: ‘disc of glittering intensity’
BBC Music Magazine: ‘beautiful and intriguing’
Fanfare: ’a special, fragile space’
5:4: 'daringly wild...positively feral..utterly amazing’
Gramophone: ‘ecstatic and ominous expression…increasingly intoxicating’
International Piano Magazine: ‘revelatory..an important disc’
The Strad: ‘blistering richness’
Recent projects supported by Arts Council England, Ambache Charitable Trust, PRSF, Hinrichsen Foundation and RVW Trust have included Pasture & Storm with virtuoso left hand pianist Nicholas McCarthy seeing the creation of 8 new works for disabled pianists, the recording released on Prima Facie in 2022; written for Alex Wilson, the 30 minute cycle Dear Cleg was premiered in Southwark Cathedral and released on Prima Facie in 2023; celebrating the work of Afghan women artists still in Afghanistan, Uncaged a new ballet score for string quintet (Cuatro Puntos) and Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet Company was commissioned for performances in Connecticut, USA, March 2025. Recordings for 2024/2025 include 10,000 Black Men (Kreutzer String Quartet) Nani ka itou? (Isbourne Trio), Uncaged (Cuatro Puntos), missi-tuk (a river’s journey) (New London Community Orchestra, Connecticut) and Henry’s Lullaby (Alex Wilson).
2025/6 projects include new works and recordings with Joshua Simoes (organist for the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court), Katherine Clarke (singing violist), Isbourne Trio and Ed Bersey (bass) with Tomas Klement (piano). Sadie teaches at Trinity Laban, is a Fellow of Goldsmiths College, London, a mentor with SWMS and Chair of Trustees for Soundworld. Her music is published by UYMP and ABRSM.