Musician Guides/Current Calendar Ranking

Verified Global Musician

Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Sarah Elizabeth Charles is a vocalist, composer, producer, and teaching artist whose work spans SCOPE, collaborative ensembles, and equity-centered education.

VocalsComposerProducerTeaching artist12 current shows

Photo source · Photo: Shervin Lainez, via Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Career Overview

About Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Charles's official biography identifies the Brooklyn-based vocalist, composer, producer, and teaching artist and traces five albums from the 2012 SCOPE debut through Dawn in 2025. It also documents work with Ajoyo, Freedom Riders, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, and other collaborative groups.[1]

Her artist-run Bandcamp distinguishes the established SCOPE ensemble on Free of Form and Blank Canvas from the new instrumentation of Dawn, which pairs Charles with Linda May Han Oh, Maya Keren, Savannah Harris, Skye Steele, and Marika Hughes.[3][4][5]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Leader, vocalist, composer, and producer

SCOPE

Charles's longstanding band recorded four albums between 2012 and 2022, with a collaborative approach linking her compositions and voice to jazz, soul, R&B, and electronic textures.[1][4][3]

Leader, vocalist, composer, and producer

Dawn ensemble

Dawn introduces an ensemble of voice, keyboards, bass, drums, violin, and cello for a program written and produced by Charles.[5]

Educator and program designer

Teaching artistry

The official biography documents Charles's work with Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections program, The New School, and an early-childhood music program developed with Rise2Shine in Haiti.[1][2]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2017

Free of Form

SCOPE leader, vocalist, co-producer, and composer

The SCOPE recording centers Charles's voice and compositions within the band's established collaborative sound.[3][1]

Release details

2022

Blank Canvas

SCOPE leader, vocalist, composer, and co-producer

Blank Canvas extends SCOPE with co-production by Jesse Fischer and music written by Charles for voice, effects, and ensemble.[4]

Release details

2025

Dawn

Leader, vocalist, composer, lyricist, and producer

Dawn features Maya Keren, Linda May Han Oh, Savannah Harris, Skye Steele, and Marika Hughes performing Charles's music and lyrics.[5]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Dawn

Hear Charles's complete 2025 recording with personnel, lyrics, and production credits.

Blank Canvas

Stream SCOPE's 2022 album through Charles's artist-run Bandcamp catalog.

Free of Form

Open the full 2017 SCOPE recording and its artist-supplied credits.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Wed, Sep 2, 6:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Wed, Sep 2, 8:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Thu, Sep 3, 6:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Thu, Sep 3, 8:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Fri, Sep 4, 6:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Fri, Sep 4, 8:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Fri, Sep 4, 10:00 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sat, Sep 5, 8:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sat, Sep 5, 10:00 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sun, Sep 6, 6:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sun, Sep 6, 8:30 PM

George Cables Quartet “The George Cables Songbook” featuring special guest Sarah Elizabeth Charles

Smoke Jazz Club · New York

Show details

Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography and career guide

    Sarah Elizabeth Charles

  2. [2] Official teaching-artistry guide

    Sarah Elizabeth Charles

  3. [3] Free of Form album and credits

    Sarah Elizabeth Charles

  4. [4] Blank Canvas album and credits

    Sarah Elizabeth Charles

  5. [5] Dawn album and credits

    Sarah Elizabeth Charles