Music
Songs from Western Mass and Austin
Video
Live in the room
Bio
Acoustic guitars, protests, and tall trees.
Music has been the nexus of Sasha’s life. Growing up in the rustic beauty of Western Mass, the son of a folk singer and political activist, his childhood was steeped in acoustic guitars, protests, and tall trees. He started clarinet in second grade and was soon holding down the drums for his band’s debut at Northampton’s JFK Middle School All-School Party.
Sasha majored in Music Theory at Oberlin College, then spent two years as music teacher, band director, and choir director at New Hingham Elementary in Chesterfield, MA. In 2014 he moved to Austin for a Master of Music in Music Education at the University of Texas, and formed the indie-folk group American Dreamer with his wife Courtney on cello. The band was selected for the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster, received a 2021 Sonic Guild grant, and has played Old Settler’s, Kerrville Folk Festival, and Fischer Fest, with airplay on KUTX and Sun Radio.
In 2017 he signed a publishing deal with Victory Records / Another Victory Publishing. His songs have appeared in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint and a Food Basics campaign, and his 2020 debut album Family drew praise from Americana Highways, Austin 360, The Bluegrass Situation, KUTX, Elmore Magazine, and No Depression.
In 2022 Sasha returned to Western Mass to be close to family and start the music program at Rise Preparatory Academy in Springfield. Since then he’s been featured in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Greenfield Recorder, and MassLive, and played Green River Festival, Back Porch Festival, Sunflower Festival, Lenox Loves Music, Summer On Strong, and countless clubs, breweries, and wineries.
Original works
- New BeginningViolin, cello, double bass, synthesizerChamber
- Open Your EyesFrom Restless Nights by American DreamerScore
- Mid-DayViolin, cello, double bassTrio
- LullabyGuitar, violin, two cellos, double bass, hornSextet
- Cue 2From the film Doucement by R. Masseo DavisFilm
- Before It BeginsSynthesizer and percussionElectronic
Arrangements for strings
- Angel From MontgomeryJohn Prine
- Bridal Chorus / Seven Nation Armymashup
- Children of JackGuy Forsyth
- Come On In My KitchenRobert Johnson
- CriminalFiona Apple
- Down by the Baytraditional
- Eleanor RigbyThe Beatles
- Gimme One ReasonTracy Chapman
- HallelujahJeff Buckley
- Hang Me Up To DryCold War Kids
- Heart of GoldNeil Young
- High Devil’s RopeRay Prim
- I Choose YouSara Bareilles
- I Love You Always ForeverDonna Lewis
- Jurassic Park ThemeJohn Williams
- MaestroHans Zimmer
- Mobarak BaadPersian wedding song
- PerfectEd Sheeran
- SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
- Space OddityDavid Bowie
- Stay the NightJukebox the Ghost
- This Must Be the PlaceTalking Heads · solo violin
- TodayJohn Denver
- Wagon WheelOld Crow Medicine Show
- WastePhish
- Welcome to the BoomtownDavid & David
- When I Fall In LoveNat King Cole
The band
American Dreamer
An indie-folk quartet led by Sasha — guitar, violin, cello, and upright bass — formed in Austin in 2016. Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster 2018–2022, 2021 Sonic Guild grant recipients, and three albums in.
americandreamermusic.com
Troubled GroundAmerican Dreamer · live
Live
Festivals, rooms, and shared bills
Festivals
- Green River Festival
- Kerrville Folk Festival
- Old Settler’s Music Festival
- Back Porch Festival
- Albuquerque Folk Festival
- Denton Folk Festival
- Fischer Fest
- Sunflower Festival
- Moccasin Creek Music Festival
- Mystic Hot Springs Music Festival
- SpringBoard Festival West
- APME Conference, Nashville
Shared bills
- Punch Brothers
- Watchhouse
- Sarah Jarosz
- Session Americana
- Elephant Revival
- Shinyribs
- Mother Falcon
- The Brother Brothers
- Ordinary Elephant
- David Wilcox
- Nobody’s Girl
- Kat Wright
Recent rooms
- Western Massachusetts
- The Lion’s Den, Stockbridge
- The Stationery Factory, Dalton
- Progression Brewery, Northampton
- Union Station, Northampton
- Glendale Ridge Vineyard, Southampton
- Black Birch Vineyard, Hatfield
- Lenox Loves Music, Lenox
- Rocky Hill House Concert, Northampton
Book a show, a string session, or a school visit.
Solo, duo, or full band. Custom string arrangements for recordings and weddings. Workshops and residencies for schools.







