About Sara Hixenbaugh
Sara Hixenbaugh was born in Kumanovo, Macedonia on June 14, 1994. Her father is a professional drum set player and from him she inherited her love of music. She started playing drum set at the age of four, and at fifteen began studying classical percussion at “Ilija Nikolovski – Luj” in Skopje, Macedonia under percussion professor Zoran Spasovski. After studying there for two years, Sara received a full scholarship from the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City, Michigan. Here she studied under the percussionist John Alfieri, and took master classes with Mojca Sedeu, Peter Erskine, Scott Pallegrom, Eric Schweikert, Clocks in Motion, SO Percussion, Ji Hye Jung, Jason Treuting, Michael Spiro etc. She moved to Jacksonville, Florida to pursue her Bachelors degree from where she graduated on Presidents List with Honors from Jacksonville University in 2018.
After the summer of 2018, Sara moved to Ohio for her Master Studies at University of Akron to study with the Distinguished professor Dr. Larry Snider and Mr. Matthew Dudack as well as to work as the Graduate Teaching Assistant. In 2020 Sara graduated with Honors and received her Master’s Degree in Percussion.
Sara has performed in many places around United States such as Millennium Auditorium in Michigan, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Macedonian Symphony Orchestra, and many others. She has also been seen as percussion performer all over Europe such as Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, France and many others.
Some of Sara’s accomplishments include: Special First Prince in International Percussion Competition in Slovenia, Special First Price on French International Competition Les Cles D’or in Paris, Music Down Beat Winner in USA, and First Special Award at the International Chamber and Solo Music Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria. She has also been awarded First Special Prize in a solo percussion competition, First Chamber Music Award, Second Award in a xylophone competition, and Second Award in a multiple percussion competition in Skopje, Macedon.
Sara is currently the General Manager at Lakewood Music Academy where she also teaches Percussion and Piano
