YuYang Ding

YuYang is a composer based in Auckland, and currently a student at Westlake Boys High School. Beginning with the piano from a young age, he found an interest in improvisation which eventually led to him writing them down as his first compositions. He has since formally studied composition under David Hamilton. Having been exposed to many different musical disciplines and styles, YuYang is an advocate for multi-musicianship. He had been involved in many instrumental groups during high school, from a harpsichord position in a chamber orchestra to being the keys player in the Black Swans jazz combo. Notably, YuYang was awarded an outstanding NCEA scholarship award in composition in 2023, being the first year 10 outstanding scholar in his school. He wrote a suite of minatures inspired by baroque forms whilst exploring new harmonic languages. The same year, he also won first place at the NZCT chamber music composition contest. In 2024, he was awarded the Kawai prize at the APPC composition prizes, and was invited to perform his work at Monash University.