On April 24, the University of Arizona’s Crowder Hall will resonate with the sounds of home, community, and healing in the 2025 installment of The Connection Series: Beyond My Window from the University Community Chorus.
At the heart of this collaborative concert experience is the world premiere of Produce, a newly commissioned work by Atlanta-born composer Sarai Hillman. Prior to the performance at Crowder Hall, music fans have the opportunity to meet the composer in an engaging conversation the her inspiration and creative process.
April 24
5-6p … Meet the Composer Sarai Hillman | Slonaker House
7:30-9p … “Beyond My Window” | Crowder Hall
Hillman’s path to composition began in the pews of her Baptist church, where gospel music laid the foundation for her expressive and soulful style. By the age of 15, she had experienced profound loss, losing both of her parents. That grief propelled her into the world of music composition, where she found a way to channel her emotions and connect with others through sound. “By using the remnants of her life’s soundtrack,” Hillman’s biography states, “she seeks to both animate the story that she and the listener have in common.”
A graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition, Hillman has composed for esteemed ensembles like the Seraphim Singers, Chicago a cappella, and the California All-State SSAA Honor Choir. Her accolades include winning the HerVoice Emerging Women Composers Competition in 2021.
Produce marks Hillman’s latest milestone—a composition centered around themes of sustainability and local community, fitting seamlessly into the mission of The Connection Series. Under the direction of Dr. M. Nicole Davis, associate director of choral activities at the School of Music, the University Community Chorus will bring this work to life alongside presentations from the Pima County Cooperative Extension and interactive audience moments.
Hillman’s voice—both literal and compositional—reflects resilience, reverence, and authenticity. Whether she is leading worship at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church or crafting moving choral pieces, her work remains grounded in purpose.
Beyond My Window promises to be more than a concert. It’s a moment of shared connection, made even more special by the debut of Produce—a piece that, like Hillman herself, turns personal roots into universal resonance.
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