Happy Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! We’re spotlighting some influential AANHPI musicians and composers. Learn about their work and impact!
Chen Yi
Chen Yi is an award-winning composer whose work blends Chinese and Western music. She was the first woman in China to receive a Master’s degree in music composition. She composed symphonies to be premiered with prestigious orchestras and musicians, like the Seattle Symphony, Cleveland Symphony, and Yo-Yo Ma. One of her most famous compositions is her Percussion Concerto, which incorporates Chinese and Western sounds.
Nina Shekhar
Nina Shekhar is an Indian American composer and songwriter known for her genre-blending approach to contemporary classical music. She draws inspiration from her South Asian heritage, pop music, improvisation, and experimental sounds to create music that is both expressive and adventurous. She has collaborated with renowned ensembles and artists across the country. Shekhar is passionate about arts education and expanding representation within contemporary music spaces. Her collaboration with The People’s Music School in 2023 culminated in the Chicago premier of her work “Mad Libs” for Youth Orchestra.
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is a world-renowned Chinese American cellist celebrated for his extraordinary musicianship and cultural collaboration. Ma was a musical prodigy and studied at Juilliard and Harvard University. His 1983 recordings of the Bach Cello Suites propelled him into the global spotlight, and he soon became a household name. In 2016, Yo-Yo Ma surprised People’s Music School students by joining them on stage for a performance as part of Chicago’s Bach Marathon.
Koji Kondo
Koji Kondo is known for creating the Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda themes, some of the most famous and beloved video game music in history. He first became interested in music because of his love for the music in video games like Space Invaders y Donkey Kong. Wanting to recreate these electronic computer sounds, Kondo began arranging, composing, and experimenting with computer programming.
Queen Liliʻuokalani
Queen Lili’uokalani was the last sovereign queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom, as well as a talented musician and composer. She played guitar, piano, organ, ʻukulele y zither, and also sang alto. She often used music as a way to express her feelings towards the state of her country and resistance to cultural and political imperialism. Her song “Aloha ʻOe” is one of the most recognizable Hawaiian songs.
Siddhartha Khosla
Siddhartha Khosla composes music for television and film. His music can be heard in the scores for “Only Murders in the Building,” “The Last of Us,” and “Looking for Alaska.” When scoring for television, Khosla aligns the feel of the music with the personalities and behaviors of the characters.
Haley Heynderickx
Haley Heynderickx is a Filipino-American singer-songwriter and guitarist celebrated for her introspective lyrics, intricate fingerstyle guitar work, and indie-folk sound. Her music explores themes of identity, spirituality, mental health, and human connection. In addition to her solo work, Heynderickx has become known for her captivating live performances – including her recent highly-anticipiated show at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music.