Yiheng Yvonne Wu is a composer and interdisciplinary artist whose work ranges from conventionally notated chamber pieces to staged experimental works. Her compositions investigate poetic and physical qualities of instrumental sounds, juxtaposing sonic characters through unconventional musical forms. Performer personas take prominence on stage through pieces that feature guided improvisations, creating room for musicians to interact and respond to each other. Recent interdisciplinary projects have incorporated American Sign Language, poetry, dance/movement, art installation, and video. 

 

Wu has received commissions from the La Jolla Symphony, Arraymusic, Michael Mizrahi and the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association, Figmentum, the Bardin-Niskala Duo, and Bent Frequency, among others. Her music has been performed by MIVOS string quartet, a.pe.ri.od.ic, Black Sheep Contemporary Ensemble, the University of Washington Percussion Ensemble, and Ensemble SurPlus and featured in the WasteLAnd concert series, the University of Tennessee Contemporary Music Festival, New Music on the Bayou, SoundSCAPE Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. Collaborators have included Jennifer Torrence, Ayako Kato, Christopher Clarino, Bonnie Whiting, Jessica Aszodi, Rachel Beetz, Dustin Donahue, and Todd Moellenberg. “Dreams of a Young Piano,” for solo piano with chamber ensemble, was awarded the 2018 Judith Lang Zaimont Prize by the International Alliance for Women in Music. Her string quartet “Utterance," released on Carrier Records, won the 5th Mivos/Kanter String Quartet Composition Prize. 

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As Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and previously at Beloit College, Wu teaches courses in composition/songwriting, music theory, and interdisciplinary arts.