July 2007 issue: Front Page Story
Born Blind, With A Severe Cleft Palate, She Sings, Records, Writes, Performs & Will Teach Music The Sarah Getto Story by Barbara Hays-Ackley
Inspired by music educators her entire life, Sarah Getto wants to pass on that inspiration to her students one day. She’s already an inspiration to many people who have seen and heard her perform, or who have listened to her CD’s, or who have just casually met her long enough to have a little visit. As for Sarah Getto’s education, she’s been in school since she was six months old. Born blind, and with a severe cleft palate, Sarah was in infant stimulation classes to stimulate brain development, went through numerous surgeries because of the palate, and was main-streamed through Nor-man Public Schools in Oklahoma where she learned Braille. Graduating from high school with a 4.0 grade point average, Sarah went to Southeastern Oklahoma State University where she graduates this year.
MUSICAL INFLUENCES
Sarah’s first sample of ‘music’ was as an infant; her father, Michael, played piano as Sarah lay on the floor moving her tiny hands and feet to the beat of the music. She loved the piano music and as an infant even let out a whimpering sound when Michael made an error! Surely not, he thought after the first time it happened, so a little later he deliberately made a mistake - - and again she cried out.
At age 3 Sarah Getto was playing her own piano, playing the fiddle at 10, and composing music at the age of 11. During those childhood years she needed only to hear a song on the radio or TV then she would play it. She also plays the autoharp, bass and guitar.
Throughout her school years Sarah had a variety of influences as for her love of music. Inspired by music educators her entire life, she grew up with an interest in all types of music. She sang in choir while in high school, played the violin in the orchestra, and later had the opportunity to per-form for rotary clubs, at parties, on stage at the Oklahoma City Opry and in Ada, Oklahoma. She also performed with the Oakridge Boys for an audience of 30,000. Some of her influences have been country artists, of course, such as Reba and Patsy Cline, only to name a few!
As a freshman at SOSU, Sarah was introduced to opera and had four years of vocal train-ing. Although not her favorite type of music, she does appreciate op-era and says she learned proper vocal techniques that she applies while singing country. She gives credit to her vocal coach for one accomplishment while in college: she placed first in the State, at the National Association of Teachers of Singers (NATS) competition.
Because of her college schedule, Sarah couldn’t perform each Saturday night, but did start per-forming at the smaller oprys last year and wants to branch out this year with one goal in mind: to reach people! She has performed at Annie’s Country Jubilee in Kansas and looks forward to some Missouri and Iowa performances (and other states).
SONGWRITER, RECORDINGS and SHOWS
In 2006 Sarah placed 3rd in the Billboard Magazine International Songwriting Competition (out of 66,000 entries).
Sarah writes a variety of songs from country to pop to gospel, and has recorded a variety of CD’s in her own studio. The recorded CD’s include standard songs such as Amazing Grace, or Christmas music, and some are beautiful instrumentals - - all done by Sarah on her variety of instruments!
There have been many comments made about this young singer-song-writer, comments from Opry owners on to national recording artists.
Oklahoma Opry owner Grant Leftwich says, “She’s a show stopper! She’s that good!” And Honeygrove Opry owner Mark McDaniel, after hearing Sarah, commented how well she sang Reba and Patsy and said “I am convinced now, that angels walk among us.” Annie and Terry Dunavin, Annie’s Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie, Kansas say, “She was on our show May 12th and was phenomenal. She is very talented vocally and in playing the keyboard. It was one of our best shows ever; she will be returning September 15th for a return engagement.” As for yours truly, publisher/editor of the Midwest Country News, I am absolutely in total agreement with the Dunavins: Sarah is phenomenal! I’ve listen-ed to her gospel and Christmas recordings (by the way, she does Christmas shows), and I’ve listened to her self-penned songs, including her country songs such as “I Heard You Smiling.” No matter what she sings, from “Amazing Grace” to the Christmas songs, on to the spiritual songs, she sings like an angel and she has the voice of an angel! No wonder Michael and Pat Getto call Sarah their little songbird! Sarah doesn’t charge to perform; her CD’s are available at her shows, the shows that also involve her dad Michael, and her mother Pat. “Mom is my makeup artist and hair stylist,” Sarah says. “And Dad is my roadie; he plays guitar and bass.” It’s a team effort, she says, even to the point of picking out her clothes for stage.
Dad Michael comments about how well received Sarah is no matter where she per-forms, no matter which direction they might travel. “Country is country,” he says.
SARAH’S GOALS
Is Sarah looking at superstardom? In her softspoken, voice-of-an-angel voice, she tells me that someday she wants to be a wife and a mother. For now, how-ever, she wants to perform as many shows as she can, where she’s able to sell her CD’s, and of course she plans to use her degree to teach music (she will soon be doing her student teaching prior to receiving her degree).
In her desire to reach people, Sarah, Pat and Michael’s travels take them from their Oklahoma home to Texas, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado and on - - hopefully - - into Iowa and Missouri.
In reaching people, perhaps one of Sarah’s self-penned songs best explains exactly what ‘reaching people’ is all about to her: We’ll Always Be Free, a song on one of her CD’s, stresses that if living in distress, and needing someone to turn to . . .
If they’d just open their eyes, open their hearts, and turn to God ‘they’d be free.’
Sarah Getto can tell you what God has done for her; her story can tell you what He has done for her. From doctors telling Michael and Pat Getto that their infant daughter would need ten surgeries to make the needed corrections, it was done in three. From the moment that Michael realized his infant daughter ‘knew’ when he made an error on the piano, it was evident that there was a God-given talent within this child who would overcome so many obstacles. Throughout her life, up to and including this year, Sarah has gone through some medical processes, including dental work, and this seems to be the year when she can start passing on that inspiration she’s received all through her school years. And that’s her real goal!
