Pui-shan Cheung is an award-winning composer, professor and producer. Cheung is a highly acclaimed composer as "beautiful sounds with abrupt intrusions of jagged explosive ideas." by the Peninsula Review in the States. Hailing from Hong Kong, she has made significant contributions to the world of music through her innovative works and multicultural collaborations.
Dr. Cheung holds the distinction of being the first Hong Kong composer to be appointed as a full-time professor at the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Her chamber opera the “Lotus Script” has received the Golden Sail Music Award in 2025. Her multimedia vocal suite, “A Thousand Colours” has recently received the National Arts Fund 2024. Her exceptional teaching abilities recognized her with an "Outstanding Teaching Award" in the First Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Music Technology Design Competition in 2023.
As an accomplished composer and expert in her field, Dr. Cheung has been invited to serve as an international judge in various esteemed music events and competitions. These include the International Alliance of Women in Music (IAWM), Search for New Music, International Rostrum of Composers, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Singapore International Composition Competition, The 19th Hong Kong Arts Development Music and Young Artist Awards, HKADC, the Chief Executive's Award for Teaching Excellence, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, the Hong Kong Composers And Authors Society Limited Gold Sail Music Awards, guest composer of the Estonia V ABIMF Music Academy (Estonia), Delian Academy for New Music (Greece), AsianArt Ensemble in Berlin (Germany), Singapore Composium (Singapore), International Music Festival at the Burapha University (Thailand), Chinese Composers’ Expo, Shenzhen (China).
Her recent commissions and interdisciplinary works include the “WE CONNECT” (Hong Kong - Korea - Germany) Interdisciplinary Collaborative work, the “Lotus Script” (75 minutes) for cross-media chamber opera, the “Legend of Moon Goddess” (90 minutes), digital opera and traditional Chinese puppets, “A Thousand Colours” (30 minutes) song cycle (three versions: (1) for soprano, Chinese orchestra & choir, (2) for soprano, and mixed-ensemble, and (3) for soprano and piano) and immersive art, “Solar Contemplation III” for Asian instruments & string quartet in Berlin, Germany. Her expertise and discerning ear have made her an invaluable asset to the music community.
With over sixty compositions to her name, Pui-shan Cheung has explored a wide range of musical genres, including solo pieces, chamber music, vocal and choral works, symphonies, chamber operas, interdisciplinary compositions, and electronic music. Her works have been performed and premiered in renowned venues across the globe, including the USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Performance venue such as The Academy (birthplace of Apollo) UNESCO world heritage, Greece, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Baroque Quarters of UNESCO World Heritage site Ragusa Ibla, Gotland Museum in Visby, Sweden, Opera Gothenburg, Estonia Concert Hall, Mondavi Centre in San Francisco, Sapporo Main Hall (Japan), Esplanade Concert Hall (Singapore), National Theatre and Concert Hall (Taipei), Haw Par Music (UNESCO),
The list of orchestras, ensembles, musical groups, and notable performances include those by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Estonia Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, the Academy Orchestra, the Academy Chinese Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Yao Yueh Chinese Orchestra, Pacific Cello Orchestra Hong Kong, Tsung Chinese Bamboo Flute Orchestra, E-Mex Neue Musik Ensemble, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Reconcile, Darmstadt New Music Ensemble, AsianArt Ensemble (Berlin), Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, Saxcess Saxophone Quartet (New Zealand), Pacific Saxophone Quartet (France), UMKC Saxophone (U.S.A.), Cincinnati String Quartet, Pacific Sounding String Quartet (Japan), APA String Quartet, TIMF ensemble, Seoul Modern Ensemble, Seattle Chamber Players, Empyrean ensemble (U.S.A.), Liberace Woodwind quintet (U.S.A.), Singapore Ding Yi Ensemble, Legends Ensemble (H.K.), Asian Young Musicians Connection, the Orchestra Academy of Hong Kong, Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, Wuji Ensemble, Macao Symphony Orchestra String Trio, Hong Kong Wind Kamerata, Heep Yunn School choir, and Hosanna Chanters, and many others.
Dr. Cheung's compositions have also been featured in esteemed festivals such as the International Society for Contemporary Music, World New Music Days in Sweden, New Zealand, Beijing, Hong Kong, International Rostrum of Composers in Portugal, Dublin, International Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, Germany, V Alion Baltic International Music Festival, Estonia, Delian Academy for New Music,Greece, Warsaw Autumn International Music Festival, Poland, Mondavi Music Center in San Francisco, Modern Beijing Music Festival, Feminist Theory and Music Symposium at University of Carolina, Greensboro, California Summer Music, Asia Pacific Music Festival and Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, Estonian Music Days in Tallinn, Estonia, IBLA International Competition and Festival in Italy, Cincinnati Music Festival in U.S.A. Atlantic Centre for the Arts Art Center in U.S.A., Italy Percussive Arts Society, TongYeong International Music Festival in Busan, Korea, Asia Pacific Music Festival and Conference, Pacific Music Festival, Sapporo (Japan), Asian Composers League in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Composium in Singapore, International music festival at the Burapha University in Thailand, Hong Kong International Music Institute Summer Music Festival, Chinese Symphonic Music Festival and Conference in ShenZhen, ASEAN Music Week in Nannin. .
Throughout her career, Pui-shan Cheung has been recognized for her exceptional talent and received numerous awards, grants, and fellowships. These accolades include winning the first prize, II International Lepo Sumera Composition Contest in Tallinn, Estonia, first prize, Italy Percussive Arts Society Composition Competition (Italy), first Prize, University of Missouri, Kansas City Chamber Music Composition Competition, first Prize, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Orchestral Composition Competition, two silver medal, Global Music Award (U.S.A.), third prize, International Composition Prize Luxembourg (Luxembourg), , Libby Larsen Prize in the International Alliance for Women in Music, 25th IAWM, Search for New Music by Women Composers Composition Contest, Special prize, IBLA World Competition in Italy, winner of Margaret Blackburn Memorial Competition. Composer fellow in the Pacific Music Festival, Sapporo (Japan), the ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund, winner of the SCI/ASCAP Composition Commission Program, KC Young Matrons in honor of Linda Herner Barrick Award, Inez Benson award, winner of the SCI Region VI recording project, winner of SCI/ASCAP, Composition Commission Program, Kansas City Conservatory Scholarship, University of Missouri (UMKC), Kansas City, Non-resident Chancellor Scholarship, Lee Hysan Foundation Fellowship, Asian Cultural Council, Overseas scholarship, Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH), Composer prize, CASH, Scholarship from the Society of Academy for Performing Arts.
Pui-shan Cheung's academic journey includes earning degrees from esteemed institutions. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, followed by a Master of Arts from the University of California, San Diego, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Currently, she serves as an associate professor at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and holds the positions of director for both the Asian Young Musicians' Connection (Hong Kong Branch) and the Hong Kong CrossRoads Ensemble.
Dr. Cheung's musical style is a fusion of Eastern and Western traditions, reflecting the vibrant and evolving culture of Hong Kong through multicultural collaborations. She draws inspiration from traditional Asian music, Chinese aesthetics, and philosophy, infusing these influences into her compositions. Additionally, she is passionate about empowering female artists through collaborative efforts, further enriching the artistic landscape.
Pui-shan Cheung is an internationally award-winning composer, professor, and producer. Cheung is highly acclaimed as "beautiful sounds with abrupt intrusions of jagged explosive ideas." by the Peninsula Review in the States. Hailing from Hong Kong, she has made significant contributions to the world of music through her innovative works and multicultural collaborations.
Dr. Cheung holds the distinction of being the first Hong Kong composer to be appointed as a full-time professor at the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Her chamber opera the “Lotus Script” has received the Golden Sail Music Award in 2025. Her multimedia vocal suite, “A Thousand Colours” has recently received the National Arts Fund 2024. Her exceptional teaching abilities recognized her with an "Outstanding Teaching Award" in the First Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macao Music Technology Design Competition in 2023.
She has recently been invited as the international judge in the 3rd Singapore International Composition Competition (Singapore), guest composer of the Estonia V ABIMF Music Academy (Estonia), Delian Academy for New Music (Greece), AsianArt Ensemble in Berlin (Germany). Her recent commissions include the “Lotus Script” (75 minutes) for cross-media chamber opera, the “Legend of Moon Goddess” (90 minutes), digital opera and traditional Chinese puppets, “A Thousand Colours” (30 minutes) song cycle and immersive art, “Solar Contemplation III” for Asian instruments & string quartet in Berlin, Germany.
Cheung has received a number of awards and prizes, including the first prize in the II International Lepo Sumera Composition Contest in Tallinn, Estonia, first prize in the Italy Percussive Society Composition Competition, third prize in the International Music Prize Luxembourg, Libby Larsen Prize in the International Alliance for Women in Music Search for New Music by Women Composers Composition Contest in U.S.A., two regional prizes in the SCI/ASCAP Composition Commission Program in New York, U.S.A., first prize in the UMKC Chamber Music Composition Competition, first prize, UMKC Orchestral Composition Competition, special prize in the IBLA World Competition in Italy, Silver award in the Global Music Award in California, U.S.A. as well as residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida.
Born in Hong Kong, Pui-shan obtained her degrees from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (B.Mus.), the University of California, San Diego (M.A.), and the University of Missouri, Kansas City (DMA). She is currently an associate professor at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and director of the Asian Young Musicians’ Connection (Hong Kong Branch), and the Hong Kong CrossRoads Ensemble. She enjoys researching traditional Asian music, Chinese aesthetics & philosophy, as well as empowering female artists through collaboration.
張博士音樂被美國半島雜誌評為”美麗而具爆發力的音樂”。張氏為首位香港作曲家獲北京中央音樂學院聘任為全職音樂教授。她的跨媒介室內歌劇《女書》，張珮珊作曲，黎錦兒作詞，榮獲香港作曲家及作家協會頒發第21屆CASH金帆音樂獎最佳正統音樂作品。她的多媒體聲樂套曲《花影長歌》最近獲入選《國家藝術基金2024年度資助項目名單》，以及2023年首屆粵港澳音樂科技設計大賽優秀指導教師奬。 她最近獲邀任為星加坡國際作曲大賽國際評委、愛沙尼亞音樂學院、希臘德聯新音樂學院、柏林亞洲當代室樂音樂節、星加坡鼎藝樂團Composium客席作曲家。 近期委約作品包括室內歌劇,”女書” (75分鐘), 數碼及中國傳統皮影多媒體室內歌劇”嫦娥傳説” (90分鐘)、多媒體藝術設計聲樂套曲,“花影長歌”(30分鐘)、中日韓亞洲傳統樂器與弦樂四重奏,”日賞觀III”（德國柏林）。
張氏為多項國際音樂大賽得主，包括第二屆愛沙尼亞Lepo Sumera國際管弦樂大賽第一名、意大利打擊樂協會國際作曲比賽榮獲得第一名、盧森堡國際音樂大賽第三名、意大利IBLA國際音樂大賽特別獎、美國國際女作曲家聯會作曲大賽Libby Larson獎、美國作曲家協會作曲委約計劃兩項區域奬、美國密蘇里大學管弦樂比賽及室樂比賽兩項第一名、美國環球音樂奬兩項銀奬等。以及美國佛羅里達州大西洋藝術學院駐院作曲家。
張氏為香港演藝學院音樂學士、美國加州大學聖地牙哥分校音樂碩士及美國密蘇里大學博士。 現為香港演藝學院作曲及電子音樂系副教授、亞青樂集(香港分社)及香港激越樂團藝術總監。她喜歡研究亞洲傳統音樂與中國哲學，以及開拓女藝術家創作群組。她的音樂 具有濃厚的東方色彩和現代西方音樂風格。
演奏者之間的心靈默契是這種無字與未知的交融。他們在音樂中彼此契合，創造出深刻的神秘意境。 在這樣的氛圍中，觀眾不僅是聆聽者，更是探索者。透過音樂的力量，台上台下模糊進入一個充滿變幻的時空，甚至相互體會到天上與人間的微妙關連。
跨文化多媒體製作
Cross-cultural Interdisciplinary Production
意境音樂劇場【無字天書】
Echoes of the Unknown
藝術總監/文本/導演：羅永暉
Artistic Director/Script/Director: Law Wing Fai
音樂總監/指導/琵琶：王梓靜
Music Director/coach/pipa: Wong Chin Ching
無極樂團x演藝當代跨文化合奏團
Wuji Ensemble x Academy Contemporary Intercultural Ensemble
演藝音樂學院x無極樂團主辦
Presented by School of Music & Wuji Ensemble
演藝學院廖湯慧靄戲劇院
Rita Tong Liu Drama Theatre
2025.09.12-2025.09.13
音樂會日期與時間：2025年9月12日（星期五）及9月13日（星期六）晚上7:30
“WE CONNECT” & “ECHOS of WE CONNECT” Hong Kong, Korea & Berlin Interdisciplinary Exchange Concert AsianArt Ensemble (Berlin) x Academy Contemporary Intercultural Ensemble
The School of Music is thrilled to present the “WE CONNECT” and “ECHOES of WE CONNECT” HK-Korea-Berlin Interdisciplinary Exchange Concerts. This groundbreaking collaboration involves students, alumni, and faculty from the School of Music and the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts (TEA), along with award-winning composers and media artists from Seoul, Korea, and the renowned AsianArt Ensemble from Berlin.
The Lotus Script" is a monodrama, cross-media chamber opera, written for soprano, violin, cello, clarinet, accordion, percussion, pipa, and creative technology media.
Nushu, the women’s script (女書) is also known as Jiangyong Nvshu (江永女書), originally from Jiangyong County, Yongzhou, Southern Hunan Province, China (中國湖南省南部永州的江永). It is a type of script used exclusively by women. The characters of the Nushu (女書) are beautiful, long and thin, with peculiar shapes and beautiful patterns. They have existed for more than hundreds of years.
To pursue a more enlightened decoding of Nushu, "The Lotus Script" starts with an idea of feminine arts, inherits the tradition, creates the spirit of Nushu from a female perspective, and expresses the gentleness and beauty of women. We use modern cross-media technology, and creative technology design, spanning East, West, traditional, minority, and modern music to show on the stage, presenting the beauty of Nushu and the cultural heritage of the ritual of crying marriage (哭嫁習俗).
for soprano, violin, cello, percussion, piano, shakuhachi, sheng, erhu, pipa
"The Bowed Shadow" is written for soprano, violin, cello, shakuhachi, percussion, sheng, erhu, pipa and piano. The music idea is inspired by the story written by writer, Pansy Lai. The story is not only freehand, but also full of human touch.
The music aims to feature the deep thoughts and feelings between the freehand of A Gongyan and the childhood memories of Pansy and her grandmother.
The composer integrates the musical flavors of old Hong Kong and the musical characteristics and styles of different places to realize the mutual connection between the present and the past.
Seoul Modern Ensemble
For Flute, clarinets/bass clarinet, violin, cello, percussion & piano.
Chi’en is a series of works inspired from the first hexagram of the I-ching (the book of change).
Chi’en I (The Dragon) written for trombone, double bass and percussion was selected in the darmstadt festival musik in 2003.
“The Dragon II” was written for saxophone quartet, has received the first prize in the University of Missouri, Kansas City Chamber Music Composition Competition.
“The Dragon III” was written for large chamber ensemble, has received the third prize in the “International Music Prize Luxembourg, 2009” in Luxembourg.
“The Dragon IV” was commissioned by the Hong Kong Wind Kamarata, wrttien for flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet and bassoon.
“The Dragon V” was commissioned by the Tsun bamboo flute ensemble,
“The Dragon VI” was commissioned by Asian Young Musicians Connection for Japanese transverse flute, Korean piri, Saenghwang, Chinese Sheng, pipa , cello and Chinese traditional shadow.
“Dai Pai Dong I” is written for Western orchestra and has been received the first prize in the II International Lepo Sumera Composition Contest (2006) in Tallinn, Estonia, Libby Larsen Prize in the International Alliance for Women (2006) in Music Search for New Music by Women Composers Composition Contest, special prize in the IBLA World Competition in Italy (2006).
The “Dai Pai Dong” is a unique Chinese-style food stall filled with big woks, large electric fans, folding tables and chairs. Dai Pai Dong developed along with Hong Kong and is an essential part of the character and culture of Hong Kong. I have chosen to feature the “Dai Pai Dong” in my orchestral work out of a desire to promote the unique Hong Kong culture to people of other countries.
The “Dai Pai Dong” is a unique Chinese-style food stall. It grows up along with Hong Kong and is the essential part of the character and culture of Hong Kong. One of the significant points led to my decision of featuring the “Dai Pai Dong” in my orchestral work is my own desire to promote the unique Hong Kong culture to people of other countries.
“Dai Pai Dong II” features the cart noodle. “Cart noodle” is a kind of à la carte noodle in the 1950s, it also named as “Na Cha Mien”, means “cheap and dirty” in Cantonese. It became popular and important cultural icon in Hong Kong.
The composer uses Cantonese dialect “Na Cha”, plus the swaying noodles movement, as the rhythm and music focus in the piece. The purpose of this composition is not to depict the story of cart noodle, but by the widely available eateries, its internal culture is by no means simple. The composer hopes to go through the rich expression of the Chinese instrumental music to show the distinctive culture in Hong Kong.
“The Legend of Moon Goddess”is a brand-new cross-media project involving top international artists from Hong Kong. The genuine mix of interdisciplinary genres (Chinese Puppetry, Aerial Silks and Opera) in this project is a first-time world premiere, and will bring about exciting visual and musical drama that one has never seen before.
The embedded theme in “The Legend of Moon Goddess” is the unending quest for evolution of Hong Kong people. In this fast-paced society, we are constantly evolving everyday to meet the changing demands of our society; yet we do not forget that we are also deeply rooted in our traditions. We hold strong values as family, virtue and compassion. We believe that the audience will resonate with “The Legend of Moon Goddess”, because this project is a symbolisation of our ideals: Our upheld values are embodied in the myth itself, and the interdisciplinary genres employed will deliver the story to the audience in contemporary relevance.
Xixi is commissioned by Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for the Celebration of Beethoven 250th Anniversary and the HK Cultural Centre 35th Anniversary.
Xixi is a Chinese character 囍, the pronunciation is xixi, also known as double happiness. In China, it often uses for marriage, meaning that both man and woman are happy together, so they use double "xi" words. In here, in my music, it means good things in pairs. I have made good pair of spectacular happiness in both East & West and they are:
1. The little motive from Beethoven Symphony no.9, “Ode to Joy”
2. Little mysterious marriage music in minority in Yunnan
3. A surprise ending as a blessing to the Hong Kong Cultural Center 35th anniversary
