BOSTON ETUDES is a project initiated by pianist Jihye Chang, for which she commissioned 8 Boston-based composers to each write a new piano étude for a series of virtual premieres on YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of this project, Yu-Hui’s “Mind Stretch” is not only an exercise of the pianist’s physical virtuosity, but also a test of her mental agility with its quick changes of musical gestures and expressions. After the online premiere on December 9th, 2021, “Mind Stretch”, along with all the études in this project, eventually received an in-person premiere on February 25th, 2022, at Distler Performance Hall, Granoff Music Center, Tufts University.
As one of the featured composers in Collage New Music’s “The Composer Speaks” series, Yu-Hui was interviewed by conductor David Hoose, and their lively conversation included topics ranging from musical identity to composition advice. The entire interview is posted on Collage’s YouTube channel. Several other composers are also presented in this series, including Peter Child, John Harbison, Joan Tower, John Heiss, Yehudi Wyner, Michael Gandolfi, Richard Festinger, Marty Epstein, William Kraft, David Rakowski, Lior Navok, Bernard Rands, and Augusta Read Thomas. Collage New Music is an ensemble founded in 1972, and it has been advancing music by composers from the 20th and 21st century ever since.
Yu-Hui’s new work “Saving Faces” for 6 vocalists and 6 instrumentalists was successfully premiered live in a series of sold-out concerts in Germany during October 2020. While Yu-Hui was prevented from attending due to Covid travel restrictions, Klangforum Heidelberg, which commissioned and performed this new work, recorded an interview session between Yu-Hui and musicologist Dr. Hannes Jedeck, so that the audience in Germany may have a chance to hear from Yu-Hui directly the concept behind “Saving Faces”.
Opus Illuminate, a new performance organization led by Nathan Meltzer, Devin Moore, and Derek Louie, presented a series of online concerts and interviews during the Covid pandemic, with an admirable aim of “working towards reestablishing our art form as the pioneering force in the efforts of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging across the cultural sector.” Yu-Hui had the pleasure of having her Three Fantasias (2006) performed in this series’s concert #7 by clarinetist Ning Zhang, along with a video interview.
As part of its EINGESPERRT (“locked-in”) project, Klangforum Heidelberg commissioned Yu-Hui to compose a new piece, Saving Faces, for 6 vocalists and 6 instrumentalists. This new piece is a reaction towards the recent development of facial recognition technology, commenting on how the individuals and the human society as a whole are thus affected. From October 24-28, 2020, SCHOLA HEIDELBERG and ensemble aisthesis, led by artistic director Walter Nußbaum, will give the premiere performances in several German cities, including Heidelberg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, and Oldenburg. Also on the program are Clemens Gadenstätter’s “die zelle” and Ye Shen’s “Raum/Distanz”.
Gil Rose, Yu-Hui & Sarah Brady after the recording session at Jordan Hall
Conductor Gil Rose and flutist Sarah Brady recorded Mountain is Mountain with BMOP (Boston Modern Orchestra Project) in September 2019 at Jordan Hall. Written for flute solo (doubling piccolo) and string orchestra, Mountain is Mountain obtains its title from a Zen Buddhism saying: “Seeing mountain is mountain, water is water. Seeing mountain is not mountain, water is not water. Seeing mountain is yet again mountain, water is yet again water.” The three movements of this piece reflect the three phases of human cognition described in this aphorism. This recording will be part of Yu-Hui’s portrait orchestral music CD, to be released under the BMOP/sound label. Mountain is Mountain was a commission from the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. It is dedicated to flutist Tod Brody, who gave the premiere with SFCO and conductor Ben Simon in 2008 at the Herbst Theater, San Francisco.
Composer Kurt Rohde and Yu-Hui are to be the guest composers at the Composers Conference from July 28 to August 11, 2019. Currently in its 75th season, the Composers Conference has been led for nearly 50 years by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Mario Davidovsky. It boasts a top-notch Conference Ensemble, directed by James Baker, which consists of more than 30 musicians specializing in new music performance. In addition to concerts and workshops for composition fellows, the Composers Conference offers opportunities for conservatory-level musicians and amateur chamber players through its Contemporary Performance Institute (CPI) and Chamber Music Workshop programs.
After 35 years at Wellesley College, the Composers Conference relocated to Brandeis University in summer 2018. This is the third time Yu-Hui is invited as the conference’s guest composer.
Boston Musica Viva, the oldest professional ensemble in the U.S. dedicated to contemporary music performance, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Yu-Hui had the honor of receiving a commission from BMV to compose a new piece, Germinate, for this special occasion. Scored for flute/piccolo, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion, Germinate is a tribute to BMV for its contribution to the music of our time, taking inspiration on how BMV helps generate new ideas and collaboration between numerous musicians. Premiere of Germinate will take place on April 13th at Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music. Also on the program are pieces by Kathryn Salfelder, Bernard Hoffer, John Huggler, and Nicholas Maw.
Yu-Hui has just finished a commission from the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation. This new work, Alter Ego, is written for cellist Lev Sivkov, the first prize winner of the Naumburg 2015 International Cello Competition. Mr. Sivkov will give the premiere in his recital on April 23rd, 2019, at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall. See the Carnegie Hall webpage for ticket information.
Led by Founder and Artistic Director, violinist Julie Leven, the professional musicians from Shelter Music Boston have been bringing high quality classical music to homeless shelters in the Boston area since 2010. The impact of their performances has been tremendous, as expressed by a guest at Pine Street Men’s Inn, “After the performance my heart was risen and my soul awakened. This was truly a heavenly experience for me.” In the past few months, Yu-Hui collaborated with this incredible organization and wrote “The Path in Front of Me”, a commission from SMB, as part of their “Water for My Soul” project, which was funded by the Boston Foundation and Harvard Musical Association. This piece incorporates words written by previous shelter audience into its lyrics, hoping to render the transformation the audience experienced after hearing SMB’s performances. Through this collaboration, Yu-Hui witnessed how music could bring a sense of dignity and humanity to individuals who need it the most, and she felt fortunate to be part of this meaningful endeavor.
Check out Boston Globe’s report about this project: ‘They give us hope’: Music groups bring comfort and joy to the homeless
Award-winning composer Yu-Hui Chang has written a wide range of music that compels and resonates with professional musicians and audiences alike.
Her music is characterized by energy, precision, ingenious effects, and vibrant colors – all in the pursuit of a deep connection with humanity. She strives to break through cultural and stylistic boundaries, and to take an inclusive view of musical diversity. This attitude is manifested in the multifaceted quality of her compositional output, and the stylistic fluidity in her writing.
Boston Musica Viva
Led by Founder and Artistic Director, violinist Julie Leven, the professional musicians from 
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