Michael Cooke

Yangfan Xu

Yangfan Xu is a Chinese-born, U.S.-based composer renowned for her contemporary classical compositions that weave together her rich Chinese heritage with broad global influences. Born in Lanzhou, China, Xu has garnered recognition for her ability to blend diverse cultural elements into her music, making her a distinctive voice in modern composition.

Educated at some of the world’s leading music institutions, Xu’s journey in music began in high school at the Central Conservatory of Music in China, followed by further studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she received her bachelor’s degree in composition. She then earned her master’s degree from The Juilliard School and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Her works have been performed by prestigious groups such as the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the New Juilliard Ensemble, and many others. Xu’s composition, “Fantastic Creatures of the Mountains and Seas,” is particularly noted for its premiere at Lincoln Center. Among her accolades are the 2023 Boston New Music Initiative Commission Competition and the 2021 Society for New Music’s Israel/Pellman Award.

Xu’s music often explores themes of multiculturalism, and she has a profound connection with nature and myth, which deeply influences her compositions. Her style is described as vibrant and full of life, often infused with narratives that bridge cultures and connect audiences from diverse backgrounds.

Joseph Klein

Joseph Klein is a distinguished composer renowned for his versatile solo, chamber, and large ensemble works. His compositions span instrumental, vocal, electroacoustic, and intermedia genres, earning acclaim for their “dizzying euphoria” and “confident polyvalence” (NewMusicBox, The Wire). Klein’s music is deeply influenced by fractal geometry, chaos theory, and natural phenomena, often integrating theatrical elements to enhance the musical narrative. Literature also plays a pivotal role in his work, inspiring compositions based on the writings of Franz Kafka, Elias Canetti, Alice Fulton, W.S. Merwin, Milan Kundera, and John Ashbery.

Klein’s innovative approach has garnered international recognition, with his works performed and broadcast worldwide. He has received numerous accolades from prestigious organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, American Music Center, Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, among others. His collaborations feature prominent ensembles and soloists such as the International Contemporary Ensemble, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, cellist Madeleine Shapiro, pianist Redi Llupa, and flutists Helen Bledsoe and Elizabeth McNutt. His recordings are available on labels like Innova, Centaur, Crystal, and Navona.

A dedicated educator, Klein holds a Doctor of Music degree in Composition from Indiana University, a Master of Arts from the University of California at San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. Since 1999, he has been a Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of North Texas College of Music, where he also serves as Chair of Composition Studies.

Klein’s research interests include the role of the composer in society, contemporary notational practices, the intersection of science and music, and the work of Frank Zappa. His contributions to music and academia have been showcased at numerous national and international conferences and festivals, solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary composition and music education.

Cheryl E. Leonard

Cheryl E. Leonard is a San Francisco-based composer, performer, field recordist, and instrument builder celebrated for her innovative work in sound art. Drawing on a profound engagement with the natural world, Leonard crafts her compositions using materials such as stones, wood, water, ice, sand, shells, feathers, and bones, often collected from remote environments including Antarctica and the Arctic. Her music not only delves into the sonic intricacies of these materials but also addresses pressing environmental issues like climate change and species extinction.

Leonard’s work has resonated on international stages across the Americas, Europe, Japan, and Australasia, and her recordings have been released under esteemed labels such as Other Minds, Mappa, and SubPop. An active participant in the academic discourse on music and sound art, her projects have been featured in documentaries like Tim Perkis’s Noisy People and on television programs such as KQED TV’s Spark.

A recipient of numerous grants and residencies, Leonard has been supported by organizations like the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program and New Music USA. Her commissions include pieces for the Kronos Quartet and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others. Her installations, instruments, recordings, and graphic scores have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide.

Besides her solo projects, Leonard is deeply collaborative, working across disciplines with scientists, visual artists, and poets, and is a member of ensembles such as Euphotic and the Oakland Reductionist Orchestra. Her current efforts include contributing to a sound map of Point Reyes National Seashore.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Leonard is an avid practitioner and teacher of Aikido, and her personal interests include backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, and backcountry skiing. She also collects spherical stones and pinecones with handles, reflecting her deep connection to the textures and forms of the natural world.