Carrying Forward a Legacy of Service Through Music
How a descendant of America's founding legacy is reshaping what service means through music and community leadership.
Carrying Forward a Legacy of Service Through Music
By Sarah Pearson for Influential Women
May 12, 2026
When people hear that my family lineage traces directly back to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, they often assume the story is about prestige, politics, or historical recognition. But for me, it has always meant something much more personal: responsibility.
My direct ancestor, Benjamin Harrison V, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a revolutionary leader, and the fifth governor of Virginia. His son, William Henry Harrison, became the ninth President of the United States, and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, later served as the nation’s 23rd president. My great-grandmother, Opal Agnes Harrison, was part of that presidential family legacy and spent part of her childhood connected to life in the White House.
History has always been present in my family story, but I was raised to understand that legacy is not simply something you inherit—it is something you choose to carry forward.
For me, that calling has taken shape through music.
As a conductor, educator, and arts leader, I have dedicated my career to building connection through the arts. Conducting is often misunderstood as control, but in reality, it is the art of listening, collaboration, and bringing people together around a shared purpose. Every rehearsal, every performance, and every educational experience is an opportunity to create unity in a world that often feels divided.
I see profound parallels between leadership in public service and leadership in music. Both require vision, empathy, communication, and the ability to inspire people toward something larger than themselves. In music, individuals from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences come together to create one unified voice. That, to me, is one of the most powerful reflections of what community can and should be.
Throughout my career, I have worked to make the arts more accessible, welcoming, and relevant to modern audiences. I believe deeply that orchestras, bands, choirs, and arts organizations should not feel exclusive or distant. Music belongs to everyone. Some of the most meaningful moments in my work have come from watching a student discover confidence for the first time, seeing an audience member moved to tears by a performance, or witnessing a community unite around a shared artistic experience.
Recently, I was honored by the city of Cleveland for my impact as an arts leader and educator in the community through music and leadership. I was also recognized in Chattanooga as a conductor and music director, contributing to the cultural growth of the region through the arts. Those moments were deeply meaningful to me—not because of recognition itself, but because they affirmed the purpose behind the work: creating connection, opportunity, and inspiration for others.
I often reflect on the idea that America itself is still an ongoing story. The ideals expressed in our founding documents were powerful, but each generation is tasked with continuing the work of shaping what those ideals look like in practice. I believe leadership today is less about authority and more about service—about creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected.
That philosophy guides my work every day.
Whether I am conducting a concert, mentoring students, developing arts programs, or engaging new audiences, my goal is always the same: to leave spaces better than I found them and to help people experience the power of shared humanity through music.
History lives through people—not only through the names written in textbooks, but through the choices we make with the opportunities we inherit. At the end of the day, I believe legacy is not simply about where we come from. It is about how we choose to serve others moving forward.
For me, that service happens through music.
#conductlikeagirl
