
BIO

Photo credit: Matthew Tate
Sze Ying Chan is a Hong Kong-born composer based in London.
Sze tells stories through music. Her lastest commissions includes music for the film White Paper flower (2021) directed by Ying Ping Yu, music for the multi-media performance Lighting up your family stories (2023) by artist Sandy Sin U Leong, and the sound walk The Divine Plan of the House of Greenwich for the Queen of England (2024) commissioned by the University of Greenwich. Sze's choral piece Cumulus (2024) is awarded the first prize in the 10th Japan international choral composition competition. Sze's electroacoustic work Due to a reported emergency may all passengers leave the station immediately (2023) was exhibited in MUS Lab 2023 held in Ecuador and broadcasted by the Radiophrenia in Glasgow. Her orchestral pieces South Kensington and Fruit of the Earth was premiered in 2024 and 2022 by the London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra.
Sze is a master graduate of the Royal College of Music and studied composition for screen with Francis Shaw and Howard Davidson, composition with Haris Kittos and Alison Kay, and electroacoustic music with Micheal Oliva. Sze was awarded a BAFTA scholarship in 2018 and received mentorship from composer George Fenton. During her study, her contemporary dance piece NEKO NO KOI (The Lover Cat) (2019) was premiered in the Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music as part of the Great Exhibitionist Series.
Sze is a member of the London Philharmonic choir, the Ealing Symphony Orchestra and the Ealing Chamber Music Club. Sze holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
LIST OF WORKS
Concert Work
2024
Cumulus for SATB divisi [score][audio]
First prize of the 10th Japan international choral composition competition.
Aurora borealis for Solo Right Hand Piano
Commissioned by and dedicated to Simon Morris
An Entertainment for narrator and fl., ob., cl., b. tbn., db., pno.
First performance: Chamber Music Concert of the Ealing Symphony Orchestra 2024
The Divine Plan of the House of Greenwich for the Queen of England fixed media, sound walk
Commissioned by the University of Greenwich
The Reading of the Universe for solo voice
2023
Enka: Yuki-Onna (The Snow Woman) for soprano and 8 violins
First performance: Chamber Music Concert of the Ealing Symphony Orchestra 2023
Portobello Road Showpiece for solo piano
The Nightingale and the Rose for cor anglais and soprano
South Kensington for chamber orchestra
London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra Call for score 2023 selected piece
Piazzi's Flying Star for vln., vla., vc., pno.
SOLA for 2 players
Due to a reported Emergency would all passengers please leave the station immediately
(fixed media electroacoustic)
Exhibited in MUS Lab 2023 held in Ecuador
Broadcasted by the Radiophrenia in Glasgow
Selected as part of the album MUSLAB -Planeta Complejo- Vol. 4.
Lighting up your family stories solo piano and narrator
Commissioned for the multi-media performance Lighting up your family stories (2023) by artist Sandy Sin U Leong
2021
Fruit of the Earth for Chamber Orchestra
London Contemporary Chamber Orchestra Call for score 2021 selected piece
Doughy for string quartet
Ligeti Quartet Workout! Call for score workshop piece
White Paper flower
Commissioned for the film White Paper flower (2021) directed by Ying Ping Yu
2020
Kodama! for Clarinet in Bb, Violin, Cello and Percussion (2)
Poetry Pie for SATB
Moments: Set 1 for solo piano
2019
The Last Bird Calls for soprano and piano
Azalea for Bass Flute, Cor Anglais and soprano
Cicada's Cry for Bassoon and soprano
The fire blossoms for Solo flute
The Love Cat (Neko no Koi) for violin, flute (dbl. b. fl.), clarinet (dbl. b. cl.), piano and electronics
Royal College of Music: Great Exhibitionists
2 mins stir-fry (fixed media)
2018
The Tree for oboe and piano
Commissioned by and dedicated to Ada Or
One night in November for flute and piano
Rhapsody for orchestra
Winner of the Royal college of Music film music competition (2018)
2017
Campanula Suite for solo piano
Dedication Suite for solo piano
2 Sonnets for soprano and piano
2016
Barcarolle for solo piano
Marguerite (2016) for voice and flute
Commissioned by Cha Way Hong Kong
2015
Hunt for chamber orchestra
2014
The Daisy (and the Lark) for violin and piano
A Morning Hymn for chamber orchestra
Poems: Confession for solo piano
First Performance: Outside in, The Coronet Theatre, London, 2021.
2013
The Philosopher's Walk for solo piano
2010
Aroma for violin and piano
Jade for solo piano
Sketches
(for solo piano unless specified)
[From the Sketchbooks (Collaborative project)]
2023
Postcards: Yellow Moon [score] [audio]
2022
Prayer [score]
2021
By the duck pond
Portrait of a Goose [score]
Gracias! [score]
2020
Remembering Steve [score]
Falling leaves
I really want a Christmas Tree! [score]
Barcarolle [score]
2018
Van Gogh's Chair [score]
2017
Footprints
Ichigoichie
Moon in the pale blue sky I
Moon in the pale blue sky II
Invention [score]
2015
November Wind [score]
Sailing in the Storm [score]
2014
Barcarolle [score]
From the Swiss Mountains [score]
2013
My Valentine [score]
White Shore [score]
2009
Moonlit Dance
2007
Gingerbreadman Waltz [score]
NEKO NO KOI
The Lover Cat
(2019)
Photo credit: Ying Ping Yu
CONTACT
© Sze Ying Chan 2024