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Sarah Kirkland Snider is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on June 23, 1973, in Princeton, New Jersey. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother being a pianist and her father a composer. Snider started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the bass. She attended Wesleyan University, where she studied music composition and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. After college, Snider moved to New York City, where she began her career as a composer. She worked as a freelance composer and collaborated with various musicians and artists. In 2005, she co-founded the record label New Amsterdam Records, which focuses on contemporary classical music. The label has released several of Snider's works, as well as works by other contemporary composers. Snider's music is known for its emotional depth and lyrical quality. Her compositions often feature lush orchestration and intricate harmonies. She draws inspiration from a wide range of musical genres, including classical, folk, and rock music. Her music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the American Composers Orchestra, and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. One of Snider's most notable works is her song cycle, Penelope. The piece was inspired by Homer's Odyssey and tells the story of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, who waits for her husband's return from war. The piece features lyrics by playwright Ellen McLaughlin and is scored for voice, string quartet, percussion, and electronics. Penelope premiered in 2010 and has since been performed by numerous ensembles, including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the North Carolina Symphony. Another notable work by Snider is her orchestral piece, Something for the Dark. The piece was commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 2016. It is scored for orchestra and features a solo cello part, which was performed by Maya Beiser. The piece is a meditation on darkness and features haunting melodies and lush harmonies. Snider's most recent work is her song cycle, Mass for the Endangered. The piece was commissioned by the vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth and premiered in 2018. The piece is a response to the current environmental crisis and features lyrics by Nathaniel Bellows. It is scored for eight voices, string quartet, percussion, and electronics. The piece has been praised for its emotional power and its ability to address complex issues in a musical language that is accessible to a wide audience. In addition to her work as a composer, Snider is also an educator. She has taught composition at Princeton University and the Yale School of Music. She has also served as a mentor for young composers through programs such as the American Composers Orchestra's EarShot program. Snider's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. She has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the American Music Center. She has also been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony and the Yaddo artist colony. Overall, Sarah Kirkland Snider is a composer who has made a significant contribution to the contemporary classical music world. Her music is known for its emotional depth and lyrical quality, and she has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for her work.

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