Meet the Institute composers: Shuying Li
Shuying Li is one of the four composers of the 2015 NJSO Edward T. Cone Composition Institute. Her work Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night was inspired by Dylan Thomas’ poem.
How did your musical/composing career begin?
As a little kid, I was [once] found playing some tunes and songs on a toy keyboard. My parents were amazed at this, because nobody in my family knows much about music and I had received no training at all. So, when I was 7, they took me a piano teacher. Ten years after beginning my piano studies, I gradually noticed that I was more interested in creating than interpreting. So, I officially started composition study at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
What key experiences have shaped your path as a composer?
Coming to the States! After two years of undergraduate study at Shanghai Conservatory, I transferred to the Hartt School in Connecticut. I basically received most of my composition education here in the States. And I’ve surely benefitted so much from it!
How would you describe your compositional style, and what inspires you as a composer?
I used to be fascinated by all the compositional techniques when I first started composing. After a few years of pursuing that, I turned into exploring more emotional possibilities in my music. Either way, I always find my own music [can be expressed] with a few key words, such as drama, contradiction, extremeness. I am often inspired by literature, movies and other composers’ works.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night is inspired by Dylan Thomas’s poem. What drew you to that work, and how does your piece convey the message of the poem/respond to it?
It is funny that, as an international student, I actually got to know this poem by its presence in the movie Interstellar. I was very impressed by the way it was introduced and featured as a crucial bridge. The music is more independently developed in trying to convey a vague image rather than precisely responding to the poem. I’d like to think the whole work is like a hard process from the dark to the bright.
What attracted you to the NJSO Edward T. Cone Composition Institute?
I had a lesson with [composer and Institute Director] professor Steven Mackey two years ago and was very impressed by how directly and sincerely he pointed out various ways to improve my music. And [as for] the experience of working with professional orchestras, I know how astoundingly helpful to hear your music played by a whole group of professionals, even just for a few minutes. I’ve learned so much from these precious experiences.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I’m looking forward to this event with an open mind, and I hope to be challenged and to achieve as much growth as I can.
Major orchestras and ensembles have performed your work internationally. What was your first “big break” as a composer, and what has been your proudest accomplishment?
My first orchestral piece, written in junior year, premiered by the Seattle Symphony!