Sarah Gibson
Hocket duo in 2020
Born(1986-05-21)May 21, 1986
Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJuly 14, 2024(2024-07-14) (aged 38)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education
Occupations
  • Pianist
  • composer
OrganizationsHocket
Websitesarahgibson-music.com

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

Early life and education

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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.[1][2] 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.[1][3]

Career

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She worked as assistant director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Composer Fellowship Program, alongside director Andrew Norman,[4] and as assistant professor of composition theory at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music of Cal State Long Beach, where she also led the New Music Ensemble.[3]

In 2019, Gibson became a core artist of Piano Spheres, a Los Angeles concert series primarily focused on new piano music. She had participated in the organization for over a decade prior to her appointment.[3] She performed across the U.S. and in Europe.[5] She formed a piano duo, Hocket, with pianist and composer Thomas Kotcheff.[3] 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.[3]

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.[3] Her composition to the world for baritone and tongue drum was published by Ries & Erler.[5] She was the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's sound investment composer in the 2018/19 season.[4]

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.[4] 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.[6] Her composition warp & weft for orchestra, inspired by the art of Miriam Schapiro,[7] was premiered on January 26, 2019, by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian. Commissioned by the orchestra's 'Sound Investments' initiative, Gibson composed the score in a collaborative process that incorporated opinions from donors and musicians.[8] It was played also by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow, conducted by Gemma New.[7]

Gibson was working on her new orchestral composition beyond the beyond in the final stage of her life, on commission from the BBC Proms for a scheduled performance in August 2024, but was unable to complete beyond the beyond herself in the wake of her final illness. Kotcheff is to complete beyond the beyond for a scheduled 2025 performance under the rubric of the BBC.[9][10] At the scheduled August 2024 Prom concert, the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Anja Bihlmaier are now scheduled to perform warp & weft.[11]

Personal life and death

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Gibson married Aaron Fullerton in 2014. The couple had one son.[1]

Gibson died at her home in Los Angeles from colon cancer, on July 14, 2024, at the age of 38.[1][3]

Awards and honors

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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. Her Left-hand Piano Concerto won The University of Southern California's New Music for Orchestra competition. Additionally, she won the composition contest of the Percussive Arts Society.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Tim Page (July 20, 2024). "Sarah Gibson, rising pianist and composer, dies at 38". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Composer and Pianist Sarah Gibson has Died, Aged 38". The Violin Channel. July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Sarah Gibson". Piano Spheres. July 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "Sarah Gibson". Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Sarah Gibson". Ries & Erler. 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Sarah Gibson, composer". Chicago Center for Contemporary Composition. 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Bruce, Keith (March 24, 2024). "BBC SSO / New". Vox Carnyx. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Henerson, Evan (January 24, 2019). "Crowdfunding a Composition". USC Thornton School of Music. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "Prom 26: Beethoven, Brahms and Sarah Gibson / World premiere". bachtrack.com. 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Victoria Looseleaf (July 29, 2024). "Remembering Pianist and Composer Sarah Gibson, 38". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  11. ^ "Prom 26: Beethoven, Brahms and Sarah Gibson". BBC. 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
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