Singing
Recipient of a prize from Glor na nGael (The Voice of the Irish) for a Celtic theme song in Irish Gaelic “Ó A Ghrá Mhín (Oh Gentle Love)”, which she co-wrote for the score of the multi-award winning short film MADNESS. Her music has received worldwide radio play on the Maui Celtic Radio show (Blues and Roots Radio), and her MUSIC AT THE CANNERY concert was televised on SHAW TV. Other highlights: singing for David Foster at the Dedicated to David concert around Canada 150, soloing on Alexander Keith's NS Brewery Tour soundtrack, performances at CelticFest Vancouver & BC Highland Games, singing in the back-up choir for Josh Groban at The David Foster Foundation 25th Anniversary Miracle concert of Giving, opening for Fr Rob Galea (X-Factor Australia), recording grant recipient from FACTOR/Government of Canada.
"I asked Sarah Ann Chisholm and Murray Yates to create an Irish Gaelic theme song for my STORYHIVE film MADNESS. And it was brilliant...winning us 10 awards for the score alone and another 30 for the film."- Michelle Brezinski
Producing
Sarah Ann has also directed/produced videos in the clean energy sector for organizations such as The Canadian Geothermal Energy Association and the BC Bioenergy Network. Other film highlights include line-producing SHHH alongside director/producer/vfx artists Shervin Shoghian (DEADPOOL, TRON, DISTRICT 9, etc), Freddy Chavez Olmos (ELYSIUM, TRON, DISTRICT 9, TWILIGHT, etc) and Heinrich Beisheim (Means of Production Inc). SHHH was screened globally in over 30 international film festivals including the short film corner at CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, winning Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short at the oscar-qualifying RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Best Short Film at the FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE PUEBLA, and receiving 5 nominations-winning Best Short Film and Best Production Design at the LEO AWARDS. SHHH was distributed in select theatres in Canada through Indiecan Entertainment and was selected as vimeo’s staff picks.
"Strong Visuals and Solid Atmosphere" -Guillermo del Toro
Acting
Acting highlights include Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Dorothy Brock in 42nd street, the Narrator in Joseph in the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Rose in the Secret Garden. Sarah Ann started music lessons at age 5, began acting at age 7, and classically training for singing at age 9. She is also a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts "Enriched Performing Arts" program in Victoria BC.
"Indeed, Chisholm really sparks this play: she's cute, sharp and slick, talks a mile-a-minute and her character knows exactly what she wants. And she knows how to get it." - Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier (Dianne in The Little Dog Laughed)
Science/Academia
Prior to pursuing more artistic endeavors and heading to the west coast, Sarah Ann was awarded a Lieutenant Governor’s Medal and the Canadian Scholarship (full tuition), Sarah Ann completed a BSc. 1st-class Hons. Bio from StFX University. She was a recipient of an NSERC USRA and her research involving electron microscopy with co-authors Dr. J. Buckland-Nicks and Dr. G. Gibson was later published in the Can. J. Zool.
Community/Social Services
After derailing from academia to pursue her artistic endeavors, Sarah Ann was shocked by the amount of homelessness when she arrived on the west coast. She quickly began working in community services with clients that were homeless and at-risk of homelessness. What started as a summer job alongside performance opportunities, has evolved into approximately 17 years of practical experience in community services, which includes working with clients suffering from trauma/grief and loss, physical and developmental disabilities, refugee claimants, government assisted refugees, families, seniors, single parents, women fleeing abuse, clients struggling with mental illness, at-risk youth, persons with drug addictions, sex-trade workers, persons accessing the services of shelters and supportive housing.
She has worked with Regional Residential Services Society, The Victoria Cool Aid Society, Fraserside Community Services Society (10 years), as the Housing Coordinator/Case manager/on pandemic crisis line for JFS Vancouver/board liason for TIKVA Housing Society (6 years). She currently works for various social housing programs licensed by Vancouver Coast Health throughout Vancouver BC.