We recently connected with Vincent Zhang and have shared our conversation below.

Vincent, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Like many musicians, I began studying an instrument, the piano, at the early age of seven. Even then, it felt a little late compared to most of my friends, many of whom had started as young as four or three. To be honest, music wasn’t my greatest passion until I turned sixteen, when I faced a major decision: continue with piano, focus on maintaining high grades to apply to business schools, or dedicate myself fully to music composition, a field in which I had no formal training at the time. I chose composition. I taught myself, building my entire college application portfolio from scratch. Composition, like other creative pursuits I enjoyed growing up, felt natural to me. I also took painting classes, and visual art has always been a profound source of inspiration, often reflected in my music. I’m also a self-proclaimed chef who loves experimenting with different ingredients (even if most of my creations are horrendous). Still, the process of making something new brings me immense joy. Thus, it wasn’t me who chose to study composition, composition chose me.

Vincent, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Vincent Zhang (he/him b. 2006), a Chinese-Canadian composer from Vancouver, BC, currently based in New York City. I’m pursuing my undergraduate studies in composition at The Juilliard School under the mentorship of David Serkin Ludwig, Dean and Director of the Music Division. As one of the few Canadian composers accepted into Juilliard’s undergraduate program, I’m proud to be the youngest Canadian composer in history to win the Juilliard Orchestra Competition. My orchestral work Shaman On The Moon was premiered at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall by the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Jeffrey Milarsky.
Raised in Vancouver, BC, I carry with me a deep reverence for the natural world, especially the North Shore Mountains, which continue to inspire my creative vision. My work interweaves my Chinese heritage with my Canadian upbringing, shaping a musical voice that’s raw, instinctive, and deeply personal. I see myself as part of a new generation of artists advocating for innovation and diversity in Canadian music on the global stage. I’m dedicated to exploring modern vitality and the untapped emotional and spiritual potential of sound.
Beyond concert music, I’m a passionate collaborator across disciplines. In 2024, I was honored to be selected as the principal sound artist for James Turrell’s immersive installation at the Center for International Contemporary Art (CICA). I’ve also collaborated with choreographers and dancers from Lamondance, including on a 30-minute symphonic ballet that reimagines narrative and gesture through sound. These projects have helped me expand the boundaries of what music can be and how it can interact with space, light, and movement.
I’ve worked with renowned ensembles such as The Juilliard Orchestra, West Coast Symphony Orchestra, Amsterdam Brass Quintet, Loadbang Ensemble, Brightwork New Music Ensemble, and various local chamber groups, choirs, and soloists in the Greater Vancouver area.
What sets me apart is the fusion of cultural memory and contemporary experimentation. I don’t just write music, I create sonic environments that challenge perception and emotion, drawing listeners into a space where heritage, identity, and the surreal converge. I want people to hear something unfamiliar yet emotionally resonant, something that reflects the complexity of who we are today.
More than anything, I want potential collaborators, ensembles, and audiences to know that my work is driven by curiosity, care, and a desire to connect across borders, geographical, cultural, or disciplinary. I strive to be a voice for those navigating multiple identities and realities, and to offer music that not only reflects the present but dares to reimagine the future.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is witnessing how something that once existed only in my imagination can come to life, and not just on paper, but in sound, in space, and in the hearts of others. There’s nothing quite like hearing your music performed live for the first time, knowing that each note is now part of a shared, lived experience. It’s incredibly humbling to see how something so personal can move, challenge, or even bring joy to someone else.
I’m also deeply grateful for the chance to collaborate with incredible ensembles, performers, and artists across disciplines. There’s a special kind of magic that happens when creative minds come together to shape something larger than any one of us could create alone. Whether it’s a chamber group, an orchestra, or a team of dancers and visual artists, I cherish the process of making art in community, where ideas evolve, boundaries dissolve, and expression becomes collective.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely, at the heart of my creative journey is a mission to bridge cultural narratives and challenge conventional boundaries through music. As a Chinese-Canadian composer, I often find myself navigating multiple worlds, and I see composition as a way to reflect that complexity with honesty and imagination. My goal is to create music that not only represents my personal identity, but also speaks to broader questions of belonging, transformation, and what it means to be human in an increasingly interconnected world.
I’m driven by a deep desire to make contemporary music more inclusive and emotionally resonant, to invite listeners into unfamiliar soundscapes while still offering something that feels true and connective. I want to contribute to a future where new music is not only intellectually engaging, but also accessible, multi-dimensional, and culturally expansive.
Whether I’m writing for orchestra, collaborating with dancers, or working across disciplines, I strive to create works that are not just performances, but experiences, ones that provoke thought, spark feeling, and leave space for reflection. Ultimately, I hope my music can serve as both a mirror and a bridge: reflecting the complexity of individual experience while building new pathways for understanding and connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vincentzhangmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincentzhangmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vincentzhangmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vincent-zhang-378110767

Image Credits

Claire Wang

Xinyu