Alison Yun-Fei Jiang Music

Based in Toronto, Canadian composer, musician, and teacher Alison Yun-Fei Jiang explores the intersections of cultures, genres, and identities through composing, performing, and teaching music. Through music-making, she connects and communicates with audiences, performers, and students of diverse backgrounds.

As a composer, Alison draws inspirations and influences from life experiences as well as an array of sources such as Asian aesthetics and philosophies, Chinese opera, natural landscapes, art, film music, popular music, and literature, creating musical narratives and experiences in a lyrical, dynamic, and storytelling nature. She has served as the RBC Affiliate Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (2022-24) and was a Carrefour Composer-in-Residence with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (2020-22). She has collaborated with ensembles, performers, and artists such as Esprit Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, JACK Quartet, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Imani Winds, Molinari Quartet, pianist Daniel Pesca, carillonist Joey Brink, visual artist T.M. Glass, among others. Her music has been performed in Canada, the US, and Europe, featured on CBC Radio, the Royal Conservatory of Music 21C Festival, as well as the University of Toronto New Music Festival. Awards and recognitions come from the SOCAN Foundation, the Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers, ASCAP, the American Prize, and International Alliance for Women in Music.

Aside from composing, Alison is a pianist/keyboardist/accompanist for hire for various occasions such as recitals, RCM exams, church services, weddings, etc. She also runs a music teaching studio where she teaches piano, music theory, composition, musicianship, and music history to students ranging from children to adults from diverse backgrounds.

Alison holds degrees in music from the University of Chicago (Ph.D.), New York University (M.M.), and Manhattan School of Music (B.M.). Her work has been generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, SOCAN Foundation, the RBC Foundation, the Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation, New Music USA, and the Johan Franco Composition Fund. The artist gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chalmers Family Fund administered by the Ontario Arts Council.

When not “musicking”, Alison enjoys listening to J-pop, taking long walks, reading, and grocery shopping in Asian supermarkets.