Sarah Valley is one of those people that lights up a room when she walks in it. Her smile is contagious and her energy is palpable. Her bubbly personality makes anyone feel instantly at ease and her life experience allows her to relate to many people from all walks of life. She’s been asked before, “Why are you so happy?” “The first time I was asked this I didn’t know how to respond. But then I realized it’s because I have an inner joy. Believe me it’s not like I’m happy all the time or that things always go easily, but the inner joy I have is because of Jesus Christ and this is what I want to tell the world about through my music,” says Sarah. Many of Sarah’s songs on her debut album talk about these changes that take place in your life when your outlook is altered by the power of Jesus’ saving blood. As she sings in “Different Light”: Now I am seeing things a different way, from black and white to seeing things in a different light.

 

Sarah has always felt God calling her to use her voice for him, even as a young child. “I’m still figuring out exactly what God wants me do with it, but I know that the calling has always been there,” says Sarah. “Recently I have adopted Colossians 2:2,3 as my mission statement. ‘My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ I have always known that God has given me the gift of encouragement, and I want my music to do just that-encourage and reach out to people no matter where they are in their lives. Jesus met people where they were, and I hope my music will do the same thing.”

 

A native of Nashville, Sarah is thankful to have grown up in the music city. At a young age it afforded her many opportunities to mold her talent. She can remember always having the burning desire to sing and perform. Just ask anyone who saw her as a young girl rocking on her rocking horse and belting out the lyrics to Annie’s “Tomorrow” or singing Amy Grant and Sandi Patty songs at the top of her lungs. At the age of six she began singing on various Christian kids albums, something she continues to do today only now she has graduated to directing many of them. Sarah has sung on projects for artists such as CeCe Winans, Sandi Patty, and Erin O’Donnell and worked for numerous companies including Lifeway, Brentwood/Benson, Sparrow Music, Integrity Music and United Methodist Publishing House. Recently in 2004 she also got to try her hand at character voices when she teamed up with Disney and Music Theatre International to do the voices of Cruella DeVil from “101 Dalmations,” Gus and Drizella from “Cinderella,” and Bagheera from “Jungle Book.” She also landed her first professional stage job at age ten with Gaylord Entertainment working at Opryland Theme Park. “It had always been a dream of mine to perform at Opryland. I remember going there with my family and during one of the shows I remember turning to my mother and saying, ‘I’m going to perform on that stage someday,’ I couldn’t believe it when that dream became a reality,” recalls Sarah. This ignited Sarah’s love of performing. Since working for Gaylord Entertainment Sarah has done numerous productions for companies such as the Tennessee Repertory Theater, Circle Players, PBS and performed at Super Bowl Players’ Parties. She has also been featured on numerous television shows such as Nashville Now, Talk of the Town, TNN, Crook and Chase, Entertainment Tonight and Mornings on Fox17.

 

So what are Sarah’s plans for the future? With the completion of her E.P., Sarah plans to get her music heard. Simple to say but hard to do. “I don’t know what God has down the road for me, but I know that I feel compelled to sing of God’s love and share that music with others. I know I must be obedient with the gifts he’s given me. Sometimes it seems like such a large task, but I know God is faithful and he can do immeasurably more than what I can ask or even imagine.”