“A lovely little gem… Clearing of Snow paints a winter scene at sunset in lush textures.”
— Cleveland Classical
“Elegant musical poetry... struck by the beauty and craft of Hegenderfer's music"
— Akron Beacon Journal
Sarah Hegenderfer is a composer whose work centers on storytelling through sound, blending atmospheric orchestration with emotional and narrative-driven musical language. Drawing inspiration from natural imagery, psychological depth, and human connection, her music often explores transformation, memory, and the tension between fragility and power.She is currently completing a Bachelor of Music in Composition at the University of Akron, where she studies applied composition with James Wilding and Robert Brownlow. Her musical background is broad, shaped by performance experience in classical guitar, voice, trumpet, piano, and ensemble performance, all of which inform her approach to writing for musicians with sensitivity and collaboration in mind.Sarah’s music has been programmed by professional ensembles including the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra at Severance Hall. Her work has also been performed internationally in Kaufbeuren, Germany as part of a masterclass program.In addition to orchestral music, she writes for chamber ensembles, solo instruments, choir, and educational settings, with recent performances featured on University of Akron concerts, at the International Saxophone Symposium, and through guest residencies and workshops. She has participated in masterclasses with composers including Omar Thomas and Eric Whitacre, and was selected as a composer for the Composers Sandbox program in New York, where she worked with the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird.Beyond composition, Sarah is active as a performer, conductor, and educator. She is the founder of the Akron New Music Society, a student-led organization dedicated to fostering collaboration between composers and performers and encouraging the creation and performance of contemporary music.
Live Performance
Film and Video Game Cues
Rescore Studies