Originally from Kajang, Malaysia, Hong-Da Chin explores multiculturalism and diversity. He incorporates cultural elements from the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures from Malaysia into his music. Being a Chinese flutist of the Chinese orchestra at his high school, he was invited to perform with gamelan groups and Indian traditional ensembles at cultural and political events. Exposure to traditional Malaysian musics instilled the importance of diversity in his creative output.
Chin’s music has been performed in the US, Germany, France, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Austria, Poland, Israel, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore. The ensembles and performers include the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej (Poland), Bowling Green Philharmonia, Bel Canto Trio, Karr and Mattingly Duo, Altered Sound Duo, Vive Ensemble, Ogni Suono, Patchwork, and Orlando Cela.
The festivals and residencies where his music has been performed include Spoleto Festival USA, World Saxophone Congress, Asian Composers League Festival and Conference, Bowling Green New Music Festival, NEOSonic Festival, Threshold Festival, Electroacoustic Barn Dance, Rasquache Artist Residency and Avaloch Farm Institute.
In addition to his work as a composer he is a (Western) flutist and an accomplished Chinese flutist specializing in contemporary music. As a flutist, he has won the Denise Jennings Solo and Ensemble Competitions (Undergraduate Division), the Del Mar College Honors Recital Competition (twice) and the Texas Community College Band Directors’ Association All State Band Concerto Competition. As a Chinese flutist, he has performed at venues and festivals such as Carnegie Hall (NYC), Alice Tully Hall (NYC), the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C.), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), Asia Society (NYC), the Phillips Collection (Washington D.C.), the Huntington Library (LA), the Smithsonian Institution (Washington D.C.), Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park (Chicago), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Silesian Theatre (Katowice, Poland), Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Global Exchange and Spoleto Festival USA.
Chin earned his A.A from Del Mar College in Corpus Christi studying composition with Neil Flory, and flute with Joy Kairies, B.M. from the University of Houston studying composition with Rob Smith and flute with Jennifer Keeney, and M.M. from the University of Louisville studying composition with Steve Rouse and flute with Kathy Karr. He studied composition with Marilyn Shrude and Mikel Kuehn at Bowling Green State University. Chin earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from BGSU in December 2017.
Chin is currently Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Western Illinois University, a member of the ADJ•ective New Music Composers’ Collective and the Society of Malaysian Contemporary Composers.
Beyond his musical activities, Chin is an avid badminton player.
https://hongdachin.com/
Publisher: Self-published unless specified otherwise
Works for Wind
Autumn Dance for wind band (Fall 2008)
Awakening for three flutes (Spring 2007) 6′ | listen
Flame for nine musicians (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Percussion, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), (Fall 2007)
Hidden Wooden Box for 8 musicians (flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, viola and cello) (Fall 2009) 8′ | listen
Impression for Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Piano (Spring 2010) 10′ | listen
Little Sunflower for WASBE Flex Band Series (2020) 4′ | watch/purchase