ABOUT

Yanqi Chen started playing piano since five years old and thereby found her interest as well as talent in music. Began from playing piano for solo works and chamber works, she started to compose music in sophomore year in college devoted herself in it since then. Early in her sophomore year, her first string quartet The Plum Blossom Melody (2015) was read by the New York based Ensemble Connect. Later her works were performed a lot in the department recitals and personal recitals. She began to explore more on electronic music when studying in New England Conservatory. Under the instruction of her teacher John Mallia and Bert van Herck, her piece Memory in Glass Marble (2017) and Dimidiation (2018) were performed several times in concerts. Her orchestral work Careulaes Nebulae (2018) were highly complimented as well.

Yanqi holds a Bachelor of Art degree from Skidmore College and a Certificate in Music Theory and Composition in New England Conservatory. Her past teachers include Anthony Holland, Evan Mack, Bert van Herck, John Mallia and Lyle Davidson. She is currently pursuing a Master degree in Composition and Computer Music in Peabody Institute of Music. She is now studying with McGregor Boyle for Computer Music and Felipe Lara for Composition. She is current working on a string quartet with electronics, and a project for computer music and dancer.

Beyond composition, Yanqi also works in the recording studios as a graduate assistant and enjoys helping her peers with studio techniques. She also plays some piano chamber works with her friends. When she’s not composing, her favorite thing is to visit museums. 

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