recognition

Finalist at the Bartók World Competition I was selected a finalist in the composer division of the Bartók World Competition, held this year in Budapest, Hungary. The competition, organized by the Hungarian government and the Franz Liszt Academy, recognizes work that engages with the musical legacy of Béla Bartók and attracts an international field of composers and musicians. My entry for the competition was the Sonatina No.2, Op.18. I believe that achieving a finalist position in a competition of this international stature provides an important platform for this work. The assessment was made by a distinguished jury comprised of Thomas Adès, József Balog, Gyula Fekete, Shinuh Lee, and Augusta Read Thomas. Diploma from the competition comitee From the official booklet of the competition

Finalist at the 2nd Saad Haddad Composition Competition I am pleased to announce that I was selected as a finalist in the 2nd Saad Haddad Composition Competition. The competition was organized by the award-winning American composer and content creator, Dr. Saad Haddad. The call for submissions requested new works for string quartet. I submitted my piece, Rondò All’Americana (Rondo in the American Style), which had been previously adapted for string quartet for a performance opportunity, though it was originally conceived for saxophone quartet. The competition received a high level of interest, with a total of 142 submissions. My piece was one of only five works ultimately selected for the final round. During the review process, Dr. Haddad noted that the work’s character felt distinctly suited to a saxophone quartet, impressively guessing its original instrumentation. Recognizing this astute observation and agreeing with his assessment, I have since decided to revert Rondò All’Americana to its original formation for saxophone quartet. The judging panel for the competition also included the distinguished American composers Bobby Ge and Dr. Katherine Balch. It is a profound honor to have received this recognition from such esteemed musical figures. As part of the finalist award, I received a one-year subscription to Nkoda, and I look forward to a one-on-one mentoring session with Dr. Haddad. You can watch the video here.

Choral Arts Initiative Festival It was an absolutely thrilling experience to be selected as a Composer Fellow for the Premiere Project Festival by the Choral Arts Initiative. This marked my first-ever visit to America, and the five-day festival in Southern California in June 2024, specifically the beautiful Orange County area (Irvine), was fascinating. The festival, organized by Dr. Brandon Elliott, consisted of intense workshops with composers Dale Trumbore, Derrick Skye, and Matthew Hazzard. This was then followed the high point: the rehearsal and world premiere of my new choral piece, A Morning, by a world-class choir. Hearing my music performed was a powerful and unforgettable moment. I learned so much, not only from the formal sessions but also from connecting with my fellow musicians. I made wonderful friends and colleagues, including composers. I am so grateful to the Choral Arts Initiative for making this first American adventure so enriching and memorable.