Mrs. Sarah Russell Tulbert has enjoyed a career in music education spanning more than 25 years. While she has primarily served as a middle and high school orchestra teacher, Mrs. Tulbert has also taught band, marching band, chorus, three levels of music theory, and special education classes.

Highlights of Mrs. Tulbert’s career include performances by invitation at the NCMEA Conference in 2009 and 2021, collaborative concerts with both the Appalachian State University Orchestra and the UNC Greensboro Orchestra, ten summers conducting both the junior and senior orchestras at UNC Greensboro’s Summer Music Camp, serving as both the NC Honors Orchestra Chair and Orchestra Section Chair, conducting the Kentucky All-State Commonwealth Orchestra in 2021, and serving as an adjudicator for orchestra festivals, clinics, and conferences throughout Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Tulbert has been especially passionate about building a strong sense of community through fostering ensembles, and helping young musicians discover both their musical voice and their confidence as performers. In her final six years as a full-time classroom educator, she had the privilege of rebuilding a struggling orchestra program and growing it into a thriving community of students whose work was ultimately recognized with an invitation to perform at the NCMEA State Conference.

Today, while her full-time career is in property management, event planning, and social media marketing, Mrs. Tulbert remains deeply connected to the music education community. Through guest conducting, adjudication, clinics, and mentorship, she continues to work with students and teachers across the region.

Encore Consulting was founded as a way to formally continue that work. After leaving the classroom, invitations to adjudicate festivals, conduct honor orchestras, and lead clinics continued to arrive, reinforcing what Mrs. Tulbert has always known to be true: music education is not simply a profession, but a calling. Her work is guided by her faith and by a deep commitment to ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and supported. She is passionate about creating environments where students and educators from all backgrounds and identities feel safe, respected, and encouraged to thrive.

Mrs. Tulbert resides in Mooresville, North Carolina with her husband Bart (also a music educator), their five children, and two rescue dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading, watching football, serving in music ministry, and providing reliable transportation for multiple children with ever-evolving extracurricular activities and interests.