Spanish violist Sara Ferrández has built an international solo career on major concert stages, alongside creative independent work as a songwriter-producer.
Artist Playbook caught up with the Karajan Academy and Mutter Virtuosi alumna to talk about intuition, identity, and the freedom to keep evolving.
“More than anything, I’ve learned to trust my intuition. It has never failed me”
What first drew you to the viola?
The viola chose me before I chose it. My parents picked the instrument when I was three. Looking back, it suited me perfectly.
The viola holds everything together. One moment it’s the protagonist, the next it’s supporting everyone else, a chameleon, almost. That’s exactly how I feel as an artist.
What has your career taught you about finding the right path?
I’ve learned to trust my intuition. It has never failed me. I make decisions based on what genuinely fulfills me, not on what’s expected or what others have already done.
The artistic life I want isn’t the conventional one. Every decision has to serve that vision. I want a career that feels authentic, sustainable, and deeply mine.
What does performing mean in your own words?
Creating a shared moment of listening and presence. To make people forget about everything else and simply experience the music with me.
How have different musical worlds shaped you?
Every discipline makes the others stronger. Chamber music makes me a better soloist. Being a soloist makes me a better chamber musician. Recording has taught me to listen differently, to notice details. I don’t see these worlds as separate. They feed each other constantly.
What keeps the work fresh today?
Curiosity keeps everything alive. In recent years, I’ve been deep in electronic production, writing, and singing my own songs. It’s my greatest creative passion, and the two worlds feed each other: producing makes me a better player, while my classical background shapes the songwriting. On the road, I capture the essence of each place and turn it into songs. I love that feeling.
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