Starlight

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 August 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.