Sarah Hutchings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Hutchings
|
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sarah Reneer |
| Born | September 27, 1984 Lexington, Kentucky |
| Origin |  United States |
| Occupation(s) | Composer |
Sarah Hutchings (born September 27, 1984) is an American composer. She writes many kinds of music, including operas, songs for singers called art songs, and music for choirs.
Life and Music Journey
Sarah Hutchings was born in Lexington, Kentucky. She grew up in Durham, North Carolina. Sarah started her music lessons when she was only four years old.
She studied music at several universities. She earned her first music degree from Western Carolina University in 2007. Then, she got her master's degree from Florida State University in 2010. In 2013, she completed her highest music degree, a Doctor of Musical Arts, from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She learned from famous composers like Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.
Sarah Hutchings is married to Mitchell Hutchings, who is an opera singer. They live in Boca Raton, Florida.
Sarah's Musical Works
Sarah Hutchings has written many pieces of music. These include short operas, songs for solo singers, and music for choirs.
Operas
Operas are plays where the story is told mostly through singing. Sarah has written four short operas:
- Remember Me: This was a short opera scene for two singers and a piano. It won an award in 2012 from the Boston Metro Opera.
- Styria: This opera was written for nine singers and a full orchestra. Its story is based on an old book called Carmilla. It was performed in 2013.
- Twenty Minutes or Less: The Washington National Opera asked Sarah to write this opera. It was performed in 2015 at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.
- Rodman in North Korea: This is a funny opera about Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea. It features three solo singers, a choir, and a small orchestra.
Art Songs
Art songs are songs written for a solo singer, usually with piano music. They are often based on poems.
- Songs of Mortality I-III: This is a group of songs based on poems by Edgar Allan Poe. Sarah wrote these songs for her master's degree.
- On Faith and Life: This is another group of songs she wrote in 2010.
- Ode to Free Beer: This song was written in 2011.
- Vestige of a Woman: This group of songs was a finalist for a big award in 2014.
- In Seasons of Life's Pursuit: This is a group of songs for a male singer and piano. Sarah's husband, Mitchell Hutchings, performed it for the first time in 2016. It was also a finalist for an award in 2017.
Choral Music
Choral music is written for a group of singers, like a choir.
- Stabat Mater Seorsa: This piece is for a women's choir. It was first performed in 2019 by the Florida Atlantic University Women's Chorus.
