Chen Zhangyi

Assoc Prof Chen Zhangyi serves as Associate Professor of Composition at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, where he has taught analysis and composition since 2015 while leading the OpusNovus new music ensemble (2016-2018). His works have been performed globally by ensembles including the London Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

His educational background includes studies at Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins University) and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music under mentors Thomas Benjamin, Michael Hersch, Kevin Puts, and Peter Edwards. His compositional philosophy integrates nature-inspired elements (e.g., orchestral works Rain Tree and Vanda) with Singaporean cultural exploration through the chamber opera cycle A Singapore Trilogy (Laksa Cantata, Window Shopping, Kopi For One), named among Straits Times' best classical events of 2018.

Chen's recent compositions demonstrate a distinct trajectory toward East-Asian/Western musical synthesis, exemplified by the 2019 三人行 concerto featuring erhu, ruan, and percussion. His works consistently engage with Singaporean identity while maintaining international relevance, as seen in the SSO-commissioned Of An Ethereal Symphony (2016) for Europe tour and the Abbey Road Studios-winning choral work Ariadne’s Love (2011).

His major recognitions include:

• Young Artist Award by Singapore National Arts Council (2014)
• Paul Abisheganaden Grant for Artistic Excellence (NUS Centre for the Arts, 2014)
• Abbey Road Studios Anthem Competition winner (2011)

As an active performer, Chen plays violin and viola with Red Dot Baroque ensemble while continuing to develop cross-cultural compositions presented at venues like Cambridge University's International Conference on Musical Intersections. His leadership extends to mentoring through NUS's composition program and fostering new music via ensemble direction.