Full Biography

Daniel (Jingyang) Cui is a composer born in China whose work draws deeply from historical inquiry, philosophy, and contemporary social realities. Having lived and studied in China, Australia, and the United States, Cui brings a nuanced global perspective to his music. He finds inspiration in the friction between historical narratives and the whimsical subtleties of daily life, frequently exploring the profound tension between external discipline and internal freedom. Writing across orchestral, chamber, vocal, and electroacoustic mediums, Cui aims to craft a sonic language that is intellectually rigorous yet deeply rooted in the human experience.

His music has earned significant international recognition. Recent honors include First Prize and the Orchestra Award at the 17th International Dimitri Mitropoulos Competition in 2025, Third Prize at the 14th River Awards International Composition Competition, Georgina Joshi Commission Prize and the Second Prize for NOTUS Contemporary Vocal Composition at Indiana University. His projects have been supported by the Artzenter Emerging Composer Completion Grants, and the American Composers EarShot Fellowship.

His music has been performed by a wide array of prominent ensembles and orchestras worldwide. His chamber works have been interpreted by leading contemporary groups including Wild Up, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Tacet(i) Ensemble, Switch~ Ensemble, Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Ensemble L’Itinéraire, AsianArt Ensemble, Texas New Music Ensemble, Hub New Music, Ensemble Dal Niente, Mivos Quartet, Lyris Quartet, PRISM Quartet, ~Nois, Project Fusion Quartet, NOTUS Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Sydney Conservatorium Clarinet Ensemble, Tasting Notes Handbell Choir, Hear Now Festival Ensemble, UCSD Chamber Ensemble, Impulse Festival Trio, Longy Festival Trio and Vinola Trio. His orchestral compositions have received premieres by the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Indiana University Chamber Orchestra, and the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra.

An active voice in contemporary music, Cui has had his scores selected for numerous festivals, workshops, and symposiums globally. Recent highlights include appearances at the 30th Annual Midwest Graduate Music Consortium, the Hear Now New Music Festival, Albany 21st Century Composers Workshop, CAMPGround 24, and the AsianArt International Composer Workshop in Berlin. He has also participated in the International Composition Institute of Thailand, the Del Mar International Composers Symposium, the Texas New Music Festival, Connecticut Summerfest, and the Longy Divergent Studio. Furthermore, he was awarded a residency at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute and was selected for the NACUSATHON, Tasting Notes, and Indiana State University Music Now calls for scores. Cui has also presented his works at ICA New Music Weekend, UC Berkeley and Nanjing University of Arts.

Cui is currently pursuing a PhD in Composition at the University of California, San Diego, studying with Lei Liang. He holds a Master of Music from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied with David Dzubay and Aaron Travers as a fellowship recipient. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the guidance of Carl Vine.