Music is composed, which is where Sarah Strong comes in. Strong is a Mesa State senior, liberal arts major, music major and a composer. Add performer and singer and Strong is a self-described “chameleon who handles anything that life sends her way.”
Strong has played flute since age seven. She also played organ and saxophone. She found her singing voice when she was the opening act for her high school band.
Strong graduated from Grand Valley High School in Parachute, Colo., and chose Mesa State by accepting a scholarship via Mesa State’s “Best of the West” music festival. The festival has grown since 2000 from a one-day event with 40 high school seniors who performed a concert with the college’s Wind Symphony. The festival now boasts “exciting performance with a world premiere and featuring two bands consisting of over 140 talented high school musicians.”
A fluke accident on Colorado National Monument last spring guided Strong into music. Strong fell while hiking. She broke her hand and dislocated her shoulder. With eight months of recovery time she was unable to practice the flute.
The time she spent healing and honing her skills as a composer resulted in very prestigious praise.
In December 2001, composer John Mackey was a part of the “Best of the West” festival. Mackey has a Master’s degree in Music from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His website explains, “Mackey particularly enjoys writing music for dance and for symphonic winds.”  Mackey’s experience at the festival was posted on his blog which includes compliments of Strong’s performance.
“The next day, I had a composition master class with a very talented young composer named Sarah Strong. I can never imagine how a composer gets the courage to present their work for critique, publicly (in front of probably 40 people), to another composer. I don’t think I could do it. Sarah was very brave (and her music was really good!), and I want to thank her for subjecting herself to that. I had a nice time with Sarah, both in her master class, and in rehearsal…” wrote Mackey.
When Strong has had a rough day and questions her composing skills, this compliment is where she turns to keep her on track. Strong plans to graduate in a year and travel around America beginning with Lake Powell in AZ. Strong will also be working to complete two commissions. After traveling Strong would like to get her Master’s in composing from North Texas University in Denton and a Doctorate degree in the same field.
Strong had her final chance to showcase her talent over the weekend with her senior recital.