Sarah Gibson (composer)

Sarah Gibson (May 21, 1986 – July 14, 2024) was an American pianist and composer. As a pianist, she focused on new music. 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 in a young age, and began piano lessons at age 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, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in piano performance and music compsition, 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 on March 8, 2024 by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra 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 8 August 2024. That program was meant 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
Gibson married Aaron Fullerton in 2014. The couple had one son.

Gibson died, after a struggle with colon cancer for several months, at home in Los Angeles 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.