Zhou Tian (Chinese: 周天; born 1981, in Hangzhou, China) is a Chinese-American composer of contemporary classical music.[1] His Concerto for Orchestra received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition in 2018,[2] making him the first Chinese-born composer and the second Asian composer (following Tōru Takemitsu in 1995) honored in that category.[1] His composition have been performed by performers and orchestras such as Jaap Van Zweden, Yuja Wang, Manfred Honeck, Long Yu, the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, London Philharmonic, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, “The President's OwnUnited States Marine Band, and Shanghai Symphony, where he served as the Artist-in-Residence.[1][3][4][5] In 2019, thirteen symphony orchestras commissioned his composition “Transcend” in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion.[6] In 2022, he received the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award from the American Bandmasters Association for Sinfonia, becoming the first Asian-American winner in the award's 66-year history. [1][7]

Zhou Tian
BornDecember 22, 1981
Hangzhou, China
Occupation(s)composer, academic
Zhou Tian giving a pre-concert talk at Princeton University

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Zhou Tian earned his Masters of Music degree from the Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California.[8] He is professor of composition at Michigan State University.[9]

Compositions

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Symphonic works and concertos

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  • Double Concerto (for violin, viola and orchestra) (2024) [10]
  • Threads (2024) [11]
  • Birthday Fantasia (2024) [11]
  • Violin Concerto "Night Tour" (2022)[12]
  • Flute Concerto (2022) [5]
  • Metropolis (2022)[13]
  • Gift (2019)[14]
  • Transcend (2019) [6]
  • Cello Concerto "Flowing Sleeves" (2018)[15]
  • Rise (2018)[16]
  • Concerto for Orchestra (2016)[2]
  • Viaje (flute and string orchestra) (2016) [16]
  • Joy (string orchestra) (2016)[17]
  • Broken Ink (2013)[18]
  • Listening to the Land (2013) [19]
  • Trace (2013) [20]
  • A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2009) [21]
  • The Grand Canal (erhu, ruan, Chinese opera singer, mixed chorus, and orchestra) (2008) [22]
  • First Sight (2007) [23]
  • The Palace of Nine Perfections (2004) [24]
  • Nocturne for strings (2003) [25]

Symphonic band

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  • Sinfonia (2022)[1]
  • Nocturne (2021) [26]
  • Trace (2021)
  • Seeker's Scherzo (2019)[27]
  • Petals of Fire (2017) [28]

Chamber music (2-6 musicians)

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  • Irises (flute & piano) (2023) [29]
  • Cadence (cello quartet - 4 cellos) (2023) [30]
  • Hidden Grace (flute, viola & harp) (2023) [31]
  • Night Tour (violin & piano) (2022)[12]
  • Flowing Sleeves  (cello & piano quintet) (2021)[20]
  • Nocturne (saxophone quartet) (2021)
  • Joy (string quintet) (2019)[17]
  • Hundred Antiques (erhu, pipa, violin, cello & percussion) (2018)[32]
  • Viaje (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone & piano) (2017)
  • Viaje (flute & string quartet or flute, cello & piano) (2015)[16]
  • Morning after the Deluge (violin, piano & string quartet / clarinet, piano & string quartet) (2014)
  • Night-Shining White (brass quintet) (2014)
  • Red Trees, Wrinkled Cliffs (guitar, violin, viola and cello) (2012)
  • String Quartet No. 2 (2010)[33]  
  • Unheard Wishes (clarinet & piano) (2009)
  • A Crown for Sonia (soprano, cello & piano) (2008) 
  • Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems...(narrator, flute, viola & harp) (2008)
  • Duo (violin & viola) (2006)
  • Ye (two cellos & piano) (2005)
  • Morning Call (brass quintet) (2002)
  • Piano Trio (2002)
  • Three Chinese Songs (voice & piano) (2002)
  • String Quartet No. 1 (2000)
  • Duet (flute & piano) (1999)

Solo instrument

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  • Prelude (piano) (2023)
  • Majestic Bells (piano) (2022)
  • Crystal (piano) (2018)
  • Blowing Westward (marimba) (2008)
  • Rhyme (cello) (2005)[33]
  • Prism (piano) (2004)

Chorus

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  • Trade Winds (a cappella) (2019)
  • Iris and Butterfly (mixed chorus & string quartet) (2002)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Celebrating AAPI Month: Dr. Zhou Tian (Composition '05)". Curtis Institute of Music. 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  2. ^ a b "Artist Zhou Tian". www.grammy.com. 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  3. ^ "Zhou Tian Gift Premieres to Rave Reviews". Michigan State University College of Music. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  4. ^ "San Francisco Symphony - Lunar New Year Feb 5 2023". San Francisco Symphony. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  5. ^ a b "World Première with Flutist Mimi Stillman and Marine Chamber Orchestra". United States Marine Band. 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  6. ^ a b Means, Sean (2019-04-28). "13 orchestras wanted to celebrate the transcontinental railroad. The composer traveled, studied — and listened to Utah 4th graders". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  7. ^ "Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest Winners - American Bandmasters Association". American Bandmasters Association. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  8. ^ Clive, Michael (2019-04-16). "Zhou Tian". Utah Symphony. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  9. ^ "Zhou Tian, Professor of Composition". Michigan State University College of Music. 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  10. ^ "非同凡响的"第一夜" 侠骨柔情今犹在,"巨人"交响启新程-杭州新闻中心-杭州网". hznews.hangzhou.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  11. ^ a b 腾讯网 (2024-07-22). "杭州爱乐乐团举行建团十五周年庆典音乐会_腾讯新闻". news.qq.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  12. ^ a b "The Strad - Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition winners' concerts". The Strad. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  13. ^ "广州交响乐团 Concert in celebration of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra's 65th Anniversary". Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  14. ^ "GRAMMY-nominated composer Zhou Tian's "Gift" to be performed at "An Evening with Lang Lang" in March". The Pittsburgh Symphony. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  15. ^ "A Celebration of Isaac Stern". Kansas City Symphony. 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  16. ^ a b c Siegel, Steve (2018-11-03). "'Rise' by Zhou Tian honors veterans with moving music inspired by their diary entries". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  17. ^ a b "Zhou Tian honored by distinguished residency". Michigan State University College of Music. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  18. ^ Minji, Yao (2022-06-10). "The show must go on: 'Lush & Verdant' concert continues virtual programs". SHINE. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  19. ^ "Of Sight and Sound". Congressional Chorus. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  20. ^ a b "Festival Connect Composer Spotlight: Zhou Tian". The Tianjin Juilliard School. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  21. ^ "Houston Symphony Magazine - November 2011 by Houston Symphony - Issuu". issuu.com. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  22. ^ BFC (2012-09-13). "Princeton Symphony presents talk, new work by Chinese composer Zhou Tian". Symphony. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  23. ^ 曹美乔. "Orchestrating a prestigious career". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  24. ^ Smith, Ken. "A Theatrical Vision: New Contexts for Familiar Works".
  25. ^ "The Eugene Symphony On The Air: Music For Strings". KLCC | NPR for Oregonians. 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  26. ^ "Unconventional—Frost Wind Ensemble". University of Miami. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  27. ^ "Bienen Symphonic Band". Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  28. ^ "UNITED STATES MARINE BAND: Flourishes and Meditations: Music of Pith and Passion" (PDF).
  29. ^ Public. "Dolce Suono Duo (Mimi Stillman, Flute, and Charles Abramovic, Piano)". www.dickinson.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  30. ^ "The Kaufman Music Center and Concert Artists Guild Present the Galvin Cello Quartet | New York Concert Review, Inc". 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  31. ^ "Formosa Trio | College of Fine Arts". finearts.uky.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  32. ^ "Hundred Antiquities: Music From China". Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  33. ^ a b "Exchange Across Borders: The Beijing Music Festival at 25". Asia Society. Retrieved 2023-07-04.


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