Sarah Elise Thompson - Eternal Light EP Launch (Sydney)
Description
“Thompson’s (music is)...something for which there’s no word other than ‘beautiful’”
— Mark Bosch, Cut Common
Sydney-based composer and pianist Sarah Elise Thompson will be performing in her debut Australian shows in celebration of her new EP eternal light.
Sarah will be performing an intimate evening performance of her music at Church Street Studios, and will by joined by the Nomad String Quartet.
The EP, out on Friday 16 October, features 5 inspiring, uplifting works for piano and string quartet, including singles ‘wings’ and ‘saw you in a dream’.
"eternal light for me represents the idea that those we love and the memories of them never truly leave us. Their light continues to remain with us forever and their presence continues on even once they have departed.
This EP is an intimate, personal journey of my own grief, written in the wake of the death of my close friends. The 5 pieces on the record are written as of signs of hope, light and beauty, with soaring melodies and warm strings. The music is a source of comfort, healing and strength to rise from the ashes. There is a light that never goes out..." - Sarah Elise Thompson
Sarah's compositions – often reflective and meditative – have a flowing quality that transports listeners into a peaceful, hypnotic state, exploring our deepest emotions through grief and joy and everything in between.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear Sarah for the first time live!
Sarah Elise Thompson - Eternal Light EP Launch
Saturday 28 November 2026 8:00pm
Doors Open: 7:30pm
Show: 8:00pm
Show End: 8:55pm*
Running Time: 55min no interval
Venue: Church Street Studios - 62-68 Church St Camperdown NSW 2050
Instrumentation: Piano and String Quartet
Artists
Sarah Elise Thompson - Piano
Nomad String Quartet -
Meg Cohen – Violin I*
Georgia Cartlidge – Violin II
Beth Condon – Viola
James Larsen – Cello
* = guest artist
Doors open 1/2 hr before start time • Music will begin at the advertised start time • No bar or food at venue • BYO permitted, but no food please • Please note there will be photography/archival video at this performance.
Lineup
Sarah Elise Thompson
Australian composer and pianist Sarah Elise Thompson (b.1996) creates delicate, flowing harmonies and dreamlike textures in her music, inviting listeners into her contemplative sound world. Her compositions – often reflective and meditative – have a flowing quality that transports listeners into a peaceful, hypnotic state, exploring our deepest emotions through grief and joy and everything in between. Following her successful debut album self centre (2021) and her recent release 'wings' (2025), Sarah’s latest single ‘saw you in a dream’ is an uplifting contemporary classical work for piano & string quartet, inspired by a dream of a loved one after their passing, bringing joy and comfort in grief. Sarah studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and has received commissions from ensembles such as The Choir of Trinity College, Melbourne, Ensemble Offspring, PLEXUS, The Song Company and the Australian Youth Orchestra, with premieres at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, and Carnegie Hall. Her music ranges from solo and chamber pieces, to larger works for choir and orchestra. Her music has been premiered and performed for audiences around Australia, and internationally in the US, UK and Europe. Sarah is an associate artist with the Australian Music Centre and is currently a resident composer at Church St Studios. Her new EP, Eternal Light, is set for release on 16 OCT 2026
Nomad String Quartet
The Nomad String Quartet was formed in Sydney in 2021. Thus far, it has given over 200 concerts to more than 60,000 people across NSW. Nomad was Fine Music 102.5 FM’s Artist in Residence in 2023, Bellingen Muse Festival's Artist in Residence in 2024, and performed at the Orange Chamber Music Festival in 2026. They have collaborated with Elena Kats-Chernin OA, Simon Tedeschi AM and Lior. Nomad members have performed with the major Australian orchestras, including ACO and SSO. What brings them to Nomad is their love of improvised music, especially folk music. All Nomad members improvise in their concerts, which renders them unique within the Australian string quartet scene.
Video
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