Stephen Sondheim: artist, composer, mentor, legend, fuser of souls, impeccable lyricist—the list goes on. Even if you’ve never heard his name, chances are he’s been able to touch your life in some meaningful way.

In his 91 years of life, Sondheim was able to accomplish what most can only dream of scratching the surface of. He is responsible for creating the beautiful lyrics and music for works such as “West Side Story,” “Into The Woods,” “Company,” “Gypsy,” “Follies,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” and countless other world-renowned musicals.

Having been mentored by Oscar Hammerstein II (co-writer of classics such as “The Sound of Music,” “Oklahoma!,” and “Carousel”), Sondheim had an impeccable foundation in storytelling and lyric writing through the lens of theatre. He dedicated his life to repaying Hammerstein by mentoring countless writers, composers, and lyricists, many of whom went on to produce modern hits such as Lin Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” or Johnathan Larson’s “Rent.”

Sondheim also inspired countless actors to pursue musical theatre. Because his shows were released between 1954 to 2008 and continually get revived for their brilliance, generation after generation of actors were so inspired by his work that they decided to trust in themselves and pursue a career on the stage.

When asked about Sondheim’s impact on his life, Trinitas Arts Conservatory’s Mr. Marrone ‘03 expressed, “Besides being a genius and a mover and shaper of the American musical theater, Stephen Sondheim was my artistic hero, and changed the way I look at music and life. Getting to share his work with my students gives me immeasurable joy.”

Sondheim evidently touched lives across generations; for example, senior Anna DiCrisi expressed, “Sondheim somehow discovered how to use musical theater to strike a chord with the deepest parts of being alive (no pun intended). His musical genius and lyrical passion make him the greatest artist that this art form might ever know. He had such a way with both words and music, and they seemed to always come together effortlessly. After losses like this, ironically, I feel as if he is the only one who would know what to say. He is deeply thanked for every song and every character he created. The reason his death takes such a toll is because we really all felt like we knew him: I guess that is the power of music.”

Personally, I know that I would not be so involved or enthralled with musical theatre without Sondheim’s influence on the arts. He took musical theatre and totally redefined it, shaping Broadway into what it is today and constantly adapting it to a changing world—and I could not be more grateful.

I cannot imagine a world without a Bobby, a Tony and Maria, a Baker and his fairytale world, or a deranged barber. Sondheim is so integral to the world that one without him simply wouldn’t exist.

I leave you with a quote from Sondheim himself and his masterpiece “Into The Woods”: “Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good.”