By: Deon C. Jefferson
The LGBT community has experienced some major difficulties in 2020 and 2021. Whether it was the unjust laws against the community, or the deaths of trans men and women, it’s been rather tumultuous. June is Pride month, so we here at the Westside Gazette want to shed light and introduce trans women and classical pianist Sara Davis Beucher. She will be giving a special performance at the Ventian Art Society on June 26th and June 27th.
Sara’s testimony is unique. Buechner has performed in every state and province of North America as a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist. Sara has performed with some of the world’s prestigious orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Buechner’s expertise has also granted her the opportunity to perform at world renown locations like Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and The Kennedy Center. Not only has she toured extensively in America, but she has also toured throughout South America and Europe. Beuchner is popular in Asia, she enjoys a special following there. Because of her popularity, she has performed with the Sydney Symphony and New Japan Philharmonic and Shanghai Philharmonic and among many others.
As an artist, Buechner has released several stellar recordings of rare piano music from composers like Rudolf Friml and Joaquin Turina. Stereophile Magazine named her Gershwin CD as “Recording of the Month”, while her interpretation of Hollywood Piano Concertos has earned her one of Germany’s most coveted awards, Deutsches Schauplatten Preis. In 2016, Buechner joined the faculty of Temple Univeristy’s Boyer College of Music and Drama. Through her career she has taught at Manhattan School of Music, New York University, in addition to presenting masterclasses and workshops at major pedagogic venues worldwide. In 2017, Buechner marked her 30 years as a Yamaha Artist.
Along with all the success, there has been a great deal of struggle and triumph. Buechner’s story reads like a major motion picture movie.
“Everything seemed to be going smoothly for me until I was in my early thirties”, said Buechner. “I started to look in the mirror and started to ask myself if I was really happy. I’ve known my whole life that I was female, but in those days, you hid those feelings. People did not talk about those things, and worst of all, I did not know anybody else like me”.
In her mid-thirties, she began her transition from male to female. Buechner was no early bloomer. Her decision to be her true authentic self was delayed due to fear of professional ramifications and being treated unfairly because of her preferred way of living. Once she was comfortable performing as Sara, she made a second debut in September of 1998. The show went great, and so did the other sold-out performances. Little did she know, her career would experience a transformation as well. Most of the people who knew “Sara” as “David” lost contact with him. Conductors stopped returning phone calls and teaching jobs became far and few. Most of all, opportunities to do concerts had vanished. Buechner took the only she could, which was at a school in Westchester teaching music to children. During that time, she was basically blacklisted and just on the verge of being homeless.
What makes Buechener so special is the fact that she literally is the example of the rainbow showing up after the storm. She had a few dark years, but thankfully she has not let it stop her.
She is working on a theater production of her life, which will talk about her life while she was transitioning. Buechner is coming to the Ventian Arts Society on June 26th and 27th. So, what can people expect from this piano playing virtuoso?
“I’m going to start with some Beethoven then move into some Chopin. I was asked to play “Rhapsody and Blue” by Gershwin, so I’ll pay that along with some of my own original music, Buechner says. “Since I’m in South Florida, I’ll add some Latin influences as well.
Seeing Buechner in person, or even on video is an outer body experience. Not only is she a well-versed artist, but she also spends her time advocating for the LGBT community. The Westside Gazette recently caught up with Buecher as she was finalizing her set list for the upcoming show. She talks more about her career, in addition to giving us a glimpse on what it was like growing up. Follow us on Facebook or Youtube to check on the interview.
