Sarah Pirkle is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music educator from East Tennessee, with nearly 30 years of experience teaching private lessons to students of all ages. She specializes in traditional Appalachian music and plays fiddle, guitar, clawhammer banjo, mandolin, and ukulele.
In 2021, Sarah was honored with the South Arts Folk & Traditional Arts Master Artist Fellowship and inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame in the songwriter category.
She has served as a songwriting instructor at Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Music Camp, and currently works as the program director and fiddle instructor for the Smoky Mountain affiliate of Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, TN.
Sarah has released multiple albums both as a solo artist and in collaboration with her husband, Jeff Barbra. Their duo album, The Barb Hollow Sessions (2004), debuted at #6 on the Roots Music Report National Bluegrass Airplay Chart, and its single “Bury Me in the Red Clay” peaked at #12 on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Chart, remaining on the charts for eight months. Their gospel album Family Singing was released in 2012.
Together, Jeff and Sarah have produced and hosted several radio programs, including Behind the Barn, which aired live from Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria in Knoxville (1998–2004) and later from Bluetick Tavern in Maryville on WFIV (2014–2020). Their Sunday morning show, In the Spirit with Jeff & Sarah, featured uplifting spiritual music across genres and aired from 2014 to 2020.
In 2025, Sarah returned to WDVX as the producer and host of Kidstuff, a Saturday morning show for young listeners that celebrates music, storytelling, and creativity.
Please join us for A Celebration of Women in Old Time Music, March 5-8, 2026