Meet Sarah Gorak | Music Performer & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Gorak and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I started turning my last name into an acronym initially to help people with spelling it to find/follow me but then realized there’s a reason why I chose “GO Random Acts of Kindness – GORAK” and how I follow that up with my mission statement of “spreading aloha everywhere I go.” Being born in Hawai’i really honed this mindset for me and I explain it to others that the word “aloha” is beautiful because it not only is a salutation but it also means love – so ultimately you greet and leave people with love. The motive behind my goals and career always roots in being able to connect with people and to leave them with some kindness or compassion. I have no aspirations to have a hit single or make a big break, I just want my music to inspire or encourage someone. I do not care what my students achieve in or outside my classroom, I just want them to leave knowing they were listened to and allowed space to freely express themselves. My legacy is to love and be loved and that’s what I want people to remember me by beyond my skills and talents in music or teaching.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There are two major components that set me apart from other artists. One is I am a mixture of a multi-instrumentalist who plays in many genres but I also am a singer songwriter – so I do an eclectic mix of shows and collaborations because of this from playing in indie rock bands, to playing cello at weddings, to crafting secular worship music, to writing my own original songs on unique instruments like guitar-ukulele and live looped violin. I love being able to have so much versatility that I could accept any type of gig that I wanted.

But what is special and important to me is that I represent a unique perspective and voice being an Asian Pacific Islander female, especially now living in the Midwest (Cincinnati, Ohio). I was born in Hawai’i, but relocated and spent most of my life in Washington State. My ethnicity is Chinese and German but the Hawaiian culture influenced me a lot and I incorporate that a lot in my music and performing luaus with authentic traditional music and hula.

Being a minority definitely comes with its challenges and discouragement of me trying to find my belonging and where my art fits yet also having the strength and courage to be bold and create new pathways. I’ve been rejected from tiki/tropical bars for me not being “the right sound” when I was trying to provide legitimate island music but they preferred country artists, which ironically I also do as a fiddle player. Countless times I watch others be chosen over me because they are the “right sound/fit” and it makes me question if I should adapt to be more like them or push to continue to be genuinely myself and finding other spaces.

This juxtaposition has actually been a big part of how I have formed my brand of self discovery and belonging within my original music and it’s also why I intentionally choose to play unique instruments like electric 5 string violins and cellos and guitar-ukuleles. Sure, I am capable of playing acoustic guitar covers but not everyone can play electric violin in bands of vast genres and also create their own arrangements for live looping. I encourage my audiences and my students in my studio to be themselves and I deserve to receive that same treatment to hone in on what makes me special versus just being like everyone else.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would be remiss as a local musician to not prioritize venues that actively have live music almost every night like MOTR Pub, The Comet, The Southgate House Revival, etc. Regardless if I am performing, you’d likely see me hanging out there just because of the communities there but also the history of those buildings!

I also think it’s important to support other forms of art!! The Cincinnati Art Museum is wonderful but I also love attending shows at the Aronoff or Taft Theatre or seeing the symphony at Music Hall.

I am an animal lover so I’ve been to my share of zoos and aquariums and the Cincinnati Zoo is definitely my top favorite and if you’re around at the right time of year, the Botanical Garden is equally as amazing.

I have my personal favorite food places but lately I’m loving the food court style spots that support local vendors like Oakley Kitchen and The Gatherall at Factory 52 in Norwood because you can get an eclectic amount of choices but also know your money directly supports people of the community. Also I love Findlay Market because it’s open all year round and has a vast amount of food options that directly support farmers and small businesses. For dessert, I hope they’d like gelato/sorbet because there’s nothing better than Golden Gelato in Covington, KY – they make everything themselves and you can taste the quality – they also have coffee, one of the smoothest housemade cold brews in the area!

I really could continue listing many more places – it took me many years to find home within the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area but if you are willing to look, you’ll always find things that bring you joy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Peter for being my constant companion and partner in life and music; My family (especially mom, dad, brother) for always supporting my artistic pursuits; My fiddle & eclectic strings families for helping me explore and find my authentic musical voice – special shoutouts to Rob Flax, Andy Reiner, Joy Adams, and Lynz Morahn for their wisdom and whimsy; My bandmates – especially Nick Federinko & Kryst Kruer – for creating and growing with me and being my family away from home; and one of my closest friends who is far in distance, Mia, for always being a friend no matter what stage of life we are in or how much time passes between us.

Website: sarahgorak.com

Instagram: instagram.com/sarahgorakmusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gorak-526994115

Facebook: facebook.com/sarahgorakmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sarahgorakmusic

Image Credits
Kaden Lucas