Sarah Grimes

Violinist Sarah Grimes joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 2016, where she is a member of the first violin section. Prior to her appointment, she performed as a guest musician with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Raised in a family of musicians, Grimes began studying the violin at the age of four. Growing up in the Twin Cities, she performed twice as a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra, in 2005 and 2010. She studied with Sarah Kwak, former first associate concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra, and later with Almita Vamos at Northwestern University, where she earned a degree in violin performance. During her studies, she served as concertmaster of Northwestern’s Symphony Orchestra, joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and worked as a freelance musician in the Chicago area.

Since 2017, Grimes has led the Mississippi Valley Orchestra as concertmaster, and performs annually with the ensemble as a concerto soloist. An active chamber musician in the Twin Cities, she has been featured on the Minnesota Orchestra’s and SPCO’s Chamber Music Series, ProMusica Minnesota, Liquid Music, Outpost, Bakken Ensemble, LAMF Winter Series, Minnesota Bach Ensemble, Isles Ensemble and The Musical Offering. She has also participated in summer music festivals worldwide including Kneisel Hall, Astona International, Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills, Hamptons Festival of Music and the Lakes Area Music Festival.

In July 2026, she will perform Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra alongside Silver Ainomäe and Alessio Bax.