Sara Baril
Sara Lyn (Bissett) Baril, raised in southern Alberta, Canada, began playing the piano by ear and composing songs at the age of six. She has always been poetically gifted and would often create songs to entertain her friends and seven younger siblings. By the age of 16, she was scoring some of her compositions which were in due course performed by talented friends and family at various functions. They sang, and Sara accompanied them at the piano having only a sheet of typed lyrics.
Sara is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her favorite songs are about the Savior and so many of the songs that she has composed pertain to Church annual auxiliary themes and gospel topics pertinent to recent conference addresses. Over the years, she has been asked on many occasions to write songs for specific purposes such as various church meetings, stake conferences, and firesides.
She has written inspirational songs, choir numbers, children’s music, hymn arrangements and a few country and love songs. She composed 11 songs for a play called “Finding My Way,” performed under her musical direction by the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Stake in 2003. She has also written music for a Christmas cantata, “Glorious Is His Name,” performed in Raymond, Alberta (1999) and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (2004). This music has been sung and loved by the young women, primary and relief society within the areas she has lived and served.
In the fall of 2006, after being encouraged by members of her stake, Sara began publishing her songs in local bookstores. After she had sent a few songs to well-known music producer, Greg Hansen, the proverbial ball began rolling, and by spring 2007, her debut album, “Thy Healing Hands – Songs of Comfort and Peace” was released. In 2015, she released a second album, “Come to Know Him,” which includes an additional 13 songs about Jesus Christ and His gospel. The collection includes many songs written during her young adult years as well as several new compositions. Both albums include vocals from professional LDS talent such as Daniel Beck, David Osmond, April Meservy, Julie Rose, Dallyn Vail Bayles, Keith McKay Evans, and Sara Bethany Ham.
She and her husband, Mark, have five children and reside in southern Alberta. When she’s not writing music, she’s busy catching up on housework and attending her children’s ball games. You can also learn more about her and her music on her blog – To Lift and Inspire.
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Sara Lyn Baril – Where Would We Be Without Family?
The home is the place where the word “love” is not a noun, but a verb. The love and compassion that family members have for one another are demonstrated more than just through spoken words. Each member of the family sets love in motion as in their day-to-day familial...