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 “musicking,” 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, natural landscapes, art, literature, film and popular music, 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 and keyboardist in solo, chamber, and collaborative settings with a focus on performing contemporary piano music by living composers. She runs a pianist-composer concert series titled “Is It Theoretically Possible?” where she annually premieres and performs brand new as well as underrepresented piano works by living composers at the Canadian Music Centre. She also collaborates with composers on recording projects; upcoming recordings include albums by Amy Brandon and Steven Webb.

Alison also runs a private teaching studio where she teaches piano, music theory, composition, and musicianship to students ranging from children to adults from diverse backgrounds. Past teaching experiences include lectureships at the University of Chicago and guest lectures at Manhattan School of Music, University of Ottawa, McGill University, Carleton University, and University of Regina. She has served as a mentor composer for the TSO, NACO, Continuum, and the Roy Thomson Hall Youth Musicians Commission (YMC), and has given masterclasses for the Association of Canadian Women Composers (ACWC).

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. Alison 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.