About Vincent Zhang
Vincent Zhang
Vincent Zhang (he/him, b. 2006) is a Chinese-Canadian composer from Vancouver, BC, currently based in New York City. He is pursuing 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 very few Canadian composers accepted into Juilliard’s Undergraduate program, Vincent is proud to be the youngest composer in history to win both the Juilliard Orchestra Competition and the Juilliard AXIOM Competition. His orchestral work Shaman on the Moon was premiered by the Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and as part of the AXIOM prize, he received a sinfonietta commission from Juilliard, to be premiered during The New Series 2025–2026 season. Additionally, as part of The New Series, Vincent has been commissioned by the Music Division to compose a new song cycle for the Pride Songbook Vol.3, marking him as the youngest Canadian composer in history to be honored by Juilliard with both an orchestral premiere and two formal commissions.
Raised in Vancouver, Vincent positions himself as an advocate for a new generation of innovative Canadian new music on the global stage. His work challenges ingrained assumptions and facile generalizations, interrogates both individual and collective forms of idolization, and consistently adopts a critical stance toward dominant systems of power. Vincent is Dedicated to exploring the essence of modern vitality and the untapped potential of the human spirit through contemporary music, Vincent draws inspiration from his upbringing and a deep spiritual connection to the vast landscapes of the North Shore Mountains. He crafts new, instinctive soundscapes that reflect his unique artistic vision.
Beyond composing concert music, Vincent is a passionate advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, engaging with diverse artistic disciplines. In 2024, he was selected as the principal sound artist for James Turrell’s installation exhibition at the Center for International Contemporary Art (CICA). His work extends into dance, having collaborated with choreographers and dancers from Lamondance, who have set multiple of his chamber pieces to movement, including his 30-minute symphonic ballet. Vincent has received commissions and performances working with renowned ensembles such as The Juilliard Orchestra, AXIOM New Music Ensemble, Tacet(i) ensemble, West Coast Symphony Orchestra, Amsterdam Brass Quintet, Loadbang Ensemble, Brightwork New Music Ensemble, University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra, and various local chamber groups, choirs, and musicians across Canada and United States. His compositions have been performed at esteemed festivals, including the MMF/NL - Mostly Modern Festival, INTACT-ICIT - International Composer Institue of Thailand, INMF - Impulse New Music Festival, Divergent Studio, DMICS - Del Mar International Composer Symposium, and the Zodiac Academy and Festival.