“...a breath of fresh air on our musical landscape”
- The Straits Times
SHORT BIO
The music of Chen Zhangyi has been described by BBC Radio 3 as “music from a voice of the future” and “a breath of fresh air on our musical landscape” by The Straits Times.
Chen's musical output features the representation of Singaporean and Asian society and culture, as seen in the chamber operas A Singapore Trilogy (lib. Jack Lin), the Nanyang-inflected Kampung Spirit (lib. Sara Florian), dementia opera Losing Lily (lib. Jean Tay), and string nonet Twin Cinema. Nature is another source of inspiration in his music, in works such as Rainforest Refrains, Water, Vanda, and Rain Tree. His music may be heard on United Records, Centaur Records and Naxos Records.
As an educator, Chen currently serves as Associate Professor of Analysis and Composition at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory (YST). Chen had co-curated with Dr. Sara Florian several creative projects in collaboration with the Asian Civilisations Museum from 2020-2022. He also offers Orchestration and Choral Composition as electives. Chen read music at YST (Bmus), and Peabody Institute (MM Theory Pedagogy, MM & DMA in Composition).
As a performer, he had led the YST new music ensemble OpusNovus (2016-2018), and was a founding member (viola) of Red Dot Baroque.
"...music from a voice of the future"
- BBC Radio 3
SHORTER BIO
The music of Chen Zhangyi has been described as “music from a voice of the future” by BBC Radio 3 and “a breath of fresh air on our musical landscape” by The Straits Times. His chamber operas often explore Singaporean socio-cultural themes, for instance in A Singapore Trilogy, Kampung Spirit, and Lily. Nature is another source of inspiration as seen in works such as Rainforest Refrains, Vanda, and Rain Tree.
Chen serves as Associate Professor of Analysis and Composition at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Occasionally, he conducts, and performs on the violin/viola. He is a member of Red Dot Baroque.