Zhou Tian

Zhou Tian (; ; born 1981) is a Chinese-American composer of contemporary classical music. His Concerto for Orchestra received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition in 2018, making him the first Chinese-born composer and the second Asian composer (following Tōru Takemitsu in 1995) honored in that category. In 2019, thirteen American symphony orchestras jointly commissioned “Transcend” in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion. That same year, the Beijing Music Festival named him “Artist of the Year.” His orchestral work “Gift” opened the Shanghai Symphony's 140th season and received its US premiere by the New York Philharmonic in 2020. 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.

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. He is Professor of Composition at Michigan State University.

Compositions

Symphonic works and concertos

Double Concerto (for violin, viola and orchestra) (2024) Threads (2024) Birthday Fantasia (2024) Flute Concerto (2022) Gift (2019) Transcend (2019) Rise (2018) Concerto for Orchestra (2016) Broken Ink (2013) Listening to the Land (2013) Trace (2013) A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2009) The Grand Canal (erhu, ruan, Chinese opera singer, mixed chorus, and orchestra) (2008) First Sight (2007) The Palace of Nine Perfections (2004) Nocturne (for strings) (2003)

Symphonic band

Concerto for Alto Saxophone (2026) Vivo (2025) Sinfonia (2022) Trace (2021) Seeker's Scherzo (2019) Petals of Fire (2017)

Chamber music (2-6 musicians)

Three Chinese Songs (soprano saxophone & piano) (2025) Irises (flute & piano) (2023) Cadence (cello quartet - 4 cellos) (2023) Hidden Grace (flute, viola & harp) (2023) Night Tour (violin & piano) (2022) Viaje (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone & piano) (2017) Viaje (flute & string quartet or flute, cello & piano) (2015) 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

Prelude (piano) (2023) Majestic Bells (piano) (2022) Crystal (piano) (2018) Blowing Westward (marimba) (2008) Rhyme (cello) (2005) Broken Ink (orchestra with mixed chorus) (2013) A Crown for Sonia (soprano, cello & piano) (2008) Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems...(narrator, flute, viola & harp) (2008) The Grand Canal (erhu, ruan, Chinese opera singer, mixed chorus, and orchestra) (2008) Iris and Butterfly (chorus & string quartet / chorus & piano ) (2002) Three Chinese Songs (voice & piano) (2002)