Daixuan Ai

This July, I attended the European American Musical Alliance Summer Institute.  During the program, my setting of Ross Gay's poem Thank You was read by vocal ensemble Variant 6.  

Listen to the recording

Follow the score here: https://issuu.com/daisyyy0809/docs/ai_daixuan_thank_you_for_voice_quartet_

Text:

Thank You 

BY ROSS GAY 

If you find yourself half naked 

and barefoot in the frosty grass, hearing, 

again, the earth's great, sonorous moan that says 

you are the air of the now and gone, that says 

all you love will turn to dust, 

and will meet you there, do not 

raise your fist. Do not raise 

your small voice against it. And do not 

take cover. Instead, curl your toes 

into the grass, watch the cloud 

ascending from your lips. Walk 

through the garden's dormant splendor. 

Say only, thank you. 

Thank you.

I am very excited to announce that in fall 2020, I will be attending the composition master's program at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music!  Alongside with admission, I was also offered an Associate Instructor position in Music Theory.  

I am grateful for all the people who have helped me and supported me through my four-year undergrad journey at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory.  I couldn't have grown to be the person I am today without all my teachers and friends at BW. 

I am looking forward to starting the next chapter of my learning journey at Indiana University, making more music, and making new memories!

On February 29th, 2020, my first new work of the year Three Xiangxi Folk Songs (for piano & violin) was premiered by Baldwin Wallace Conservatory faculty Dr. Sungeun Kim and Dr. Rotberg.  This set of three pieces was inspired by both the musical style of Chinese minor ethnic group Xiangxi Tujia and Miao, as well as my ongoing study of the western musical forms, including preludes and fugues.  For example, in the second movement titled Fugue, I tried for the first time to use a pre-existing folk melody to the subject and counter-subject of a fugue!  

Here's a link to the score if you were at Dr. Kim and Dr. Rotberg's recital and wanted to see how everything was notated after hearing the piece, or if you haven't heard the piece but want to check out the music: https://issuu.com/daisyyy0809/docs/three_xiangxi_folksongs

I wanted to also thank Dr. Kim and Dr. Rotberg for premiering two of my newest work on their recital alongside pieces by Ravel, Du Yun, and Robert Aldridge.  It was an honor to have worked with these amazing BW teachers!

I will be holding a senior composition recital at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Fynette Hall on Sunday, 11/17 at 8 pm.  The works will be presented at the recital include Nocturne (for solo piano), The Owl (for mixed ensemble), String Quartet No. 1, Fugue and Noises (for piano quartet), and Octet for Winds.  A reception will be followed.

I finished one month of study at the European American Musical Alliance Summer Institute in Paris, France.  During the program, I studied with faculties Dr. Philip Lasser, Dr. David Conte, Dr. Mark Shapiro, Dr. Benjamin Boyle, and Dr. Kyle Blaha.