Healdsburg Native Sarah Wilson Celebrates Valentine's Day with Brass Tonic Ensemble

The singer-songwriter-composer-trumpeter returns to her Petaluma home to perform at Della Fattoria for her new album 'Incandescence'.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Sarah Wilson, a Healdsburg native and Petaluma resident, is celebrating the release of her new album 'Incandescence' with a Valentine's Day concert featuring her Bay Area ensemble Brass Tonic. The concert will take place at Della Fattoria in Petaluma, where Wilson has childhood connections to the staff. Wilson, who picked up the trumpet at a young age, has had an unconventional journey in music, including touring with Bread and Puppet Theater and immersing herself in the vibrant Downtown Jazz scene in New York City in the 1990s before returning to the Bay Area.

Why it matters

Wilson's choice to perform at the Della Fattoria bakery and café in Petaluma highlights the growing trend of curated music events at local businesses, providing an alternative to the typical Valentine's Day expectations. Her unique path as a female composer and trumpet player also challenges traditional norms in the music industry.

The details

Wilson's concert will feature her Bay Area ensemble Brass Tonic, including alto saxophonist Kasey Knudsen, trombonist Mara Fox, guitarist John Schott, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, and drummer Jason Levis. Wilson was drawn to the trumpet at a young age, inspired by the live horn sections in the pop music she listened to, such as Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she joined Bread and Puppet Theater and later immersed herself in the vibrant Downtown Jazz scene in New York City in the 1990s before returning to the Bay Area.

  • Wilson picked up the trumpet at Healdsburg Elementary School and continued playing through junior and high school.
  • After graduating from UC Berkeley, Wilson joined Bread and Puppet Theater and toured with the group for 2 years.
  • Wilson moved to New York City in the early 1990s and absorbed the Downtown Music scene.
  • Wilson returned to the Petaluma area in spring of 2024.
  • The Valentine's Day concert will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Sarah Wilson

A singer-songwriter-composer-trumpeter from Healdsburg, California who now resides in Petaluma. She is celebrating the release of her new album 'Incandescence' with a Valentine's Day concert.

Brass Tonic

Wilson's Bay Area ensemble that will perform with her at the Valentine's Day concert, featuring alto saxophonist Kasey Knudsen, trombonist Mara Fox, guitarist John Schott, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, and drummer Jason Levis.

Della Fattoria

A bakery and café in Petaluma, California that is hosting Wilson's Valentine's Day concert. The venue has a history of curating music events.

Lew Sbrana

A legendary music teacher in the Healdsburg public school system who led the school bands that Wilson played in as a student.

Henry Threadgill, Myra Melford, Steve Coleman, John Zorn

Avant-garde jazz artists that Wilson was inspired by during her time immersed in the Downtown Music scene in New York City in the 1990s.

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What they’re saying

“I picked up the trumpet at Healdsburg Elementary School and continued through junior and high school playing in school bands led by Lew Sbrana, a legendary music teacher in the Healdsburg public school system. That was my first introduction to marching band music, which for me morphed later into a reverence for New Orleans street marching music.”

— Sarah Wilson

“I was drawn to the trumpet because I grew up hearing live horn sections in pop music I was listening to, artists like Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire. The disco and funk eras had these incredible live horn sections and the trumpet in that music drew me right in. Most of the girls in my school headed for the flutes and clarinets, but I beelined to the trumpet”

— Sarah Wilson

“I was living in New York City in the early 1990s and absorbed the Downtown Music scene where jazz and improvised music were flourishing. It was an incredibly dynamic, vibrant scene. I was going out to shows all the time and hearing [avant garde] Downtown Jazz artists like Henry Threadgill, Myra Melford, Steve Coleman and John Zorn but was also listening to a lot of Afro-Cuban music and even Eastern European folk music.”

— Sarah Wilson

“I live in Petaluma and love Della Fattoria. Not only is it a great bakery and restaurant but has such a great vibe. They're hosting curated music concerts every so often so it's an honor to be able to perform here. I also have childhood connections to staff so it feels like family to me.”

— Sarah Wilson

“Why not? Let's celebrate how much we love music on a holiday of love. Also, it's a great activity for Valentine's Day which is so ripe for expectation and pressure. Instead, come sit with us, escape to a magical place, go on a musical journey.”

— Sarah Wilson

What’s next

Tickets for the Valentine's Day concert are on sale now for $49.87. For more information, visit sarahwilsonmusic.com.

The takeaway

Sarah Wilson's unconventional path in music, from picking up the trumpet as a child to immersing herself in the vibrant Downtown Jazz scene in New York City, has led her to this Valentine's Day concert celebrating her new album 'Incandescence' with her Brass Tonic ensemble. Her choice to perform at the community-focused Della Fattoria bakery in Petaluma highlights the growing trend of curated music events at local businesses, providing an alternative to the typical Valentine's Day expectations.