A third generation soldier, Sergeant First Class Sarah Polinski is a native of Sayre, Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Soldiers’ Chorus in 2019, Sgt. 1st Class Polinski performed with AIDA Cruises, singing musical theater, pop, and jazz in more than 25 countries. In the United States, Sgt. 1st Class Polinski performed summer seasons with Ohio Light Opera Company and College Light Opera Company. Favorite roles include Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Sarah Brown in “Guys and Dolls,” and Valencienne in “The Merry Widow.” Loyal to her teaching roots, Sgt. 1st Class Polinski’s professional education experience ranges from directing community choir to teaching elementary general and choral music.
The Soldiers’ Chorus, founded in 1957, is the vocal complement of The United States Army Field Band of Washington, DC. The 24-member mixed choral ensemble travels throughout the nation and abroad, performing as a separate component and in joint concerts with the Concert Band of The Musical Ambassadors of the Army. The chorus has performed in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, India, the Far East, and throughout Europe, entertaining audiences of all ages.
The immense talent of Soldiers’ Chorus personnel provide the ensemble with unique flexibility, and in addition to presenting selections from the vast choral repertoire, each member of the ensemble is an accomplished soloist in their own right. Performances often include the music of Broadway, barbershop quartet, Americana, as well as Pop, Rock, and R&B. Critics have acclaimed recent appearances with the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, and the Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Nashville, and National symphony orchestras, giving the chorus a nationwide reputation for musical excellence and inspiring patriotism.
Other notable performances include four World Fairs, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Kennedy Center Honors Programs, the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park, PBS’s annual National Memorial Day Concert, and the state funerals of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter.