Biography

Sarai Hillman is an Atlanta-born composer who began her musical journey singing in the
Baptist church, where she gained most of her influence from Gospel music. Losing both of her parents in her immediate life by the age of 15 created the need for an expressive outlet for Hillman, and this pushed her into the world of music composition. By using the remnants of her life’s soundtrack, Hillman seeks to both animate the story that she and the listener have in common

Hillman attended Tri-Cities High School (TCHS) in East Point, Georgia where she studied in choral singing in the Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Magnet Program. After graduation from this program in May 2016, Hillman went on to attend Georgia State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Music Composition in May 2021. During her time at Georgia State University, Hillman studied mezzo-soprano voice with W. Dwight Coleman and composition with Brent Milam.

While attending these institutions, Hillman has received outstanding awards and accolades including the very first TCHS VPA Choral Magnet Program Director’s Award (2015), created and given by Ms. Lori Ann Christian, as well as being selected as a winner of HerVoice: the Emerging Women Composers Competition (2021). Since graduation from these institutions, Hillman has proceeded to comission pieces for the 2023 California All-State SSAA Honor Choir and Chicago a cappella. Hillman’s works have been performed by the Tri-Cities High School Mastery Chorale, Georgia State University Choral Union, Georgia State University Master Singers, Georgia State University Singers, the Seraphim Singers, and Chicago a cappella.

She is currently using her studies in voice to honor God as a praise and worship leader at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. When she is not in church, Hillman is working to improve as a musician and composer