Hodges performs on National Public Radio

Sojourner Hodges, a freshman piano major from Climax, Ga. , was recognized widely for her musical achievements even before entering Andrew College this past fall. This summer, Sojourner spent three weeks in Prague as a participant in the Czech-American Summer Music Institute and also traveled to Albuquerque , N.M. , to tape a performance for National Public Radio’s (NPR) program “From the Top,” which features talented Classical musicians throughout the country who are 18 years old or younger.

On “From the Top,” Sojourner performed a movement from a Piano Trio that she composed, and was even asked to perform one of her solo piano compositions as an encore for the program, which aired nationally in October. Her performance and on-air interview on the program will be featured (along with 17 other “From the Top” musicians) in an upcoming high school music appreciation textbook, a joint venture between “From the Top” and McGraw-Hill Publishing. The textbook will allow Sojourner’s compositions to be exposed to and studied by millions of high school students and their teachers throughout the country. 

Sojourner competed in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Collegiate Solo Piano Auditions at Mercer University in December. The auditions are held each year to select college pianists to perform in the College Honors Recital and Master Classes during the annual GMEA In-State Conference in Savannah in January. Hodges was one of five college pianists in Georgia who were chosen from among 27 college pianists across the state to perform at the conference. 

On the Andrew College campus, Sojourner is active as a member of the Choraliers and as accompanist of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. She was commissioned by Paul Crook, Director of Theatre Studies, to compose incidental music for the spring production of Shakespeare’s Henry V, and she was recently installed as a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Hodges plans to transfer to a large music conservatory, preferably The New England Conservatory in Boston , to continue her music composition studies after graduating from Andrew. 

“Sojourner has been a pleasure to teach,” Susan Tusing, Fine Arts Division Coordinator, said. “She is a very gifted musician and has already accomplished so much in her young career.  I have no doubt that she will continue to excel as a composer and performer, and that we will be hearing of her accomplishments for many years to come.”

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