Sarah Gibson (composer)

Sarah Gibson
Hocket duo in 2020
Born	(1986-05-21)May 21, 1986 Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	July 14, 2024(2024-07-14) (aged 38) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Indiana University School of Music University of Southern California
Occupations	Pianist Composer
Organizations	Hocket
Website	www.sarahgibson-music.com

Sarah Gibson (May 21, 1986 – July 14, 2024) was an American pianist and composer. She founded a piano duo, Hocket, with pianist and composer Thomas Kotcheff. Her compositions have been performed by major orchestras throughout the U.S. and in Europe.

Early life and education

Gibson was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and was raised by her parents in Roswell, Georgia. She became interested in music at a young age and began piano lessons at the age of seven. As a teenager, she played for the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra as a pianist and principal keyboardist. She studied piano and composition at Indiana University School of Music, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in piano performance and music composition, and at the University of Southern California, where she earned two degrees in composition: a master's degree in 2010, and a doctorate in 2015.

Career

She worked as assistant director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Composer Fellowship Program, alongside director Andrew Norman, and as assistant professor of composition theory at California State University and the Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music where she also led the New Music Ensemble.

Gibson was a member of the PianoSpheres organization for new music for decades, and a featured artist there from 2019. She performed across the U.S. and in Europe. She formed a piano duo, Hocket, with pianist and composer Thomas Kotcheff. They performed at festivals including the MATA Festival in New York City, the Noon to Midnight of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab, and Other Minds Festival.

As a composer, she received commissions from the League of American Orchestras, the Toulmin Foundation, Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival and School and the Seattle Symphony, among others. Her composition to the world for baritone and tongue drum was published by Ries & Erler. She was the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's sound investment composer in the 2018/19 season.

Her Piano Concerto for the left hand, premiered with her as the soloist, won the University of Southern California's competition of new orchestral music. Her work soak stain for ensemble was premiered by the Grossman Ensemble in Chicago on May 19, 2023. It was inspired by the art of Helen Frankenthaler. Her composition warp & weft for large orchestra, inspired by the art of Miriam Schapiro, was played in Glasgow by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on March 8, 2024, conducted by Gemma New. It is scheduled to be performed by the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Anja Bihlmaier, at the Royal Albert Hall as part of The Proms on August 8, 2024. That program was intended to feature the world premiere of her beyond the beyond, an orchestral composition inspired by the hope, pain, fear and joy of a new mother.

Personal life and death

Gibson married Aaron Fullerton in 2014. The couple had one son.

Gibson died at her home in Los Angeles after a struggle with colon cancer, on July 14, 2024, at the age of 38.

Awards and honors

Gibson was honored by the American Composers Orchestra Underwood New Music Readings. She received the Victor Herbert Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the Marion Richter American Music Composition Award of the National Federation of Music Clubs. She won the composition contest of the Percussive Arts Society.

External links

• Official website
• Sarah Gibson discography at Discogs
• Lebrecht, Norman: Cancer claims BBC Proms composer slippedisc.com July 18, 2024
• 'warp & weft' (full) + interview with Sarah Gibson on YouTube