Dorothy Chang (composer)
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Vancouver B.C. 49° 15' 39.14" N, 123° 6' 50.23" W Arts Music Person
Described as "evocative and kaleidoscopic” (Seattle Times), the music of composer Dorothy Chang reflects an eclectic mix of musical influences ranging from popular and folk music to elements of traditional Chinese music. Many of her works are inspired by place, time, memory and personal histories. Dorothy’s catalog includes over seventy works for solo, chamber and large ensembles with a particular interest in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration, including works for mixed Chinese and Western ensembles as well as for theatre, opera and dance.
Dorothy’s music has been featured in concerts and festivals across North America and abroad, with performances by the Albany, Calgary Philharmonic, Indianapolis, Manitoba Chamber, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Queens, Saint Paul Chamber, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Victoria Symphony Orchestras, and by chamber ensembles including eighth blackbird, Smith Quartet, the Chicago Saxophone Quartet, Chai Found Music Workshop (Taiwan) and Music from China, among others. She has received awards and grants from organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Letters, ASCAP, Barlow Endowment, British Columbia Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Chamber Music America, Fromm Music Foundation, and the inaugural commission from the Women's Philharmonic Commissioning Project of Meet the Composer. From 2005-08, Dorothy served as composer-in-residence with the Albany Symphony Orchestra.
Born in Winfield, Illinois, Dorothy began her music studies on piano at age six and began composing at the age of fourteen. She received degrees in composition from the University of Michigan (B.M., M.M.) and the Indiana University School of Music (D.M). She has served on the music faculty at Indiana State University and is presently Professor of Music at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.