A composition for solo piano by Stephanie Henry
Developed through the 2025 Summer Composing Mentorship
Mentored by Soheil Shirangi
Piano:Qin Lan Zhang
Published by Zang Records in September 2026
Starlight is a nocturne in E major, written in 3/4 time and ABA: form, inspired by my story The Girl Who Followed Fireflies. Through this piece, | explore the liminal spaces of childhood—the delicate moments between waking and dreaming, memory and imagination—where wonder and solitude quietly take shape. Drifting through these twilight spaces, Starlight is a meditation on the gentle courage it takes to follow one’s own light in the darkness, inviting listeners to pause, reflect, and discover the glow within.
Stephanie Henry is a composer, pianist, and performer whose work blends contemporary composition, improvisation, film, theater, and multimedia. Her commissions and performances have been presented across the U.S., and her work has been supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board, Jerome Foundation, Upstream Arts, Westben, and other arts organizations. She holds an M.A. in Composition from Hamline University and a B.A. in Piano and Composition from St. Olaf College.