Yi-Chen Chiang
Composer / Sound Designer
Kris Williams
Apr 22, 2024
Voyage LA Magazine
The Oticons Faculty International Film Scoring Competition is recognized as one of the world’s top three major film scoring competitions. In March of this year, 166 composers from 37 countries took part in this highly competitive event. I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the Top 20 finalists.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Yi-Chen Chiang.
Yi-Chen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ever since I was a child, I have been keenly attuned to the power of music to stir my emotions. I’ve noticed that my feelings can soar or plummet depending on the mood of the music. For example, whenever I listen to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, 2nd movement, I find myself overcome with tears of emotion. Similarly, the relentless piano of Schubert’s Erlkönig always ramps up my nerves. Over time, I’ve come to see this sensitivity as a creative gift—one that I hope to use to evoke emotions in others. That’s why, at the tender age of 11, I delved into studying composition alongside my classical training.
Yet, I’ve never been content with merely emulating classical music styles. What I truly yearn for is to merge my music seamlessly with visual media, creating a harmonious blend of sight and sound that tells a compelling story. So, a few years down the line, I took a leap of faith and decided to pursue my career as a film composer in the United States, starting out in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.
During my time as a composer in the U.S., I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse array of directors and filmmakers on various projects. Last month (March 2024), I had the honor of being selected as a finalist in the Oticons Faculty International Film Scoring Competition, one of the three most important and largest film scoring competitions globally. Additionally, my compositions have garnered prestigious accolades, including the First Prize at the 2023 Caneres International Music Competition in Vienna for Composition, Best Score/Composition at the Montage Film Festival in 2023, and the esteemed Jon Vickers Film Scoring Award in 2021/2022. While receiving international recognition for my work fills me with gratitude and joy, what truly excites me is the opportunity to turn my deep-seated passion into a fulfilling career, using music as a conduit for storytelling in the captivating world of filmmaking.