Marlington alumna debuts orchestral piece

Bravo to Marlington Local School District alumnus Sarah Hegenderfer on the premiere of her reflective orchestral work, “Clearing of Snow,” by the Akron Symphony Orchestra in January 2026.

“Clearing of Snow” captures the subtle transformation from winter to spring and evokes the quiet moment when cold days give way to warmth and light. Through delicate textures, shifting harmonies and luminous orchestration, the piece mirrors the natural unfolding of snow melting under the gentle glow of an evening sun, offering listeners a sense of renewal and awakening. It was premiered alongside a performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.

The 20-year-old Akron-based Hegenderfer, daughter of Scott and Jennifer Hegenderfer, is already a composer and conductor, author and poet who creates narrative-driven orchestral works and vocal music. She attends the University of Akron, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in composition. During high school in 2023 and 2024, she received superior ratings, Class A, from the Ohio Music Education Association for classical guitar, trumpet and voice.

At the University of Akron, Hegenderfer studies applied composition with Dr. James Wilding and theory with Dr. Robert Brownlow, classical guitar with James Marron and Adam Keeler, and vocal studies with Frank Ward. She was a learning assistant for “Back to Rock,” a class at the University of Akron, and has created multiple official programs for university performances. Her skills and expertise include composition and orchestration for orchestral, choral, wind band and chamber ensembles; classical guitar, trumpet and vocal performance; conducting and ensemble leadership; music engraving using Finale and MuseScore; score and part preparation; and concert program creation. Her guiding philosophy, she said, is simple: “Creation is the most human thing we can do.”

Hegenderfer writes for a wide range of ensembles and has a growing catalog of chamber music, orchestral works and pieces for wind band. She has worked closely with student and faculty performers at the University of Akron, and her music has been featured in departmental concerts and recitals. Her work often draws on images from nature, literature and personal reflection.

Also in January, her original piano trio, “Paper Wings,” was performed for the Ludwig Hahn School of Music during the 2026 Meisterkurs master course in Kaufbeuren, Germany. The piece was performed by Majda Pallasova, Helen Lundy and Katharina Konold as part of a masterclass, which provides advanced instruction by experienced professionals to skilled students. Hegenderfer said, “I had a wonderful time at the 2026 Meisterkurs Kaufbeuren, taught by wonderful professionals Joachim C. Reinhuber, Julia Kuhn, Sebastian Comberti, Caroline Oltmanns and my applied composition studies professor, Dr. Jamie Wilding. All was put together by Martin Klein. I’m extremely grateful to work with such talented and devoted musicians and to have made so many meaningful connections. A fantastic start to the New Year.”

In 2025, Hegenderfer began working as a freelance, self-employed composer. She is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and is classified as a professional composer and music instructor. Her work has been performed by the Akron Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra and ensembles at the University of Akron.

Selected public performances at the University of Akron in 2024 included “Wind & Fire,” a trio for two trombones and guitar, and “Luminary” for trombone choir. In 2025, performances included “One Year” for chamber orchestra, “Little Sparrow” for saxophone quartet and “Nocturne No. 3” for piano solo. “Tempest,” a saxophone solo written for the International Saxophone Symposium, was performed in early January 2026. Scheduled for April 19, “Blood Moon,” an orchestral, film-style work, will be performed by the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra at Severance Hall.

Hegenderfer attended Chippewa Local Schools through the end of her sophomore year before transferring to Marlington as a junior. By that point, she had completed many of her remaining high school credits through online college courses. Through a coincidental meeting, she was persuaded to join the marching band. “I greatly admired the band director, Bret Pendergast, and as a result, for my junior and senior years, I enrolled entirely in music courses while also serving as a student assistant,” she said. “Throughout this time, I continued completing online college courses to fulfill my general education requirements.” She recalled advice from Pendergast, including, “You don’t have to know where this leads yet. You just have to take the work seriously,” “Music isn’t about perfection. It’s about listening to the people around you,” and, “Do your job.”

She enjoys Studio Ghibli films she grew up watching, including “Ponyo,” and the storytelling involved. “The music of Joe Hisaishi has had a profound influence on me,” she said.