How old were you when you started composing?
I've been composing seriously for a year, but I've always messed around with arranging the music I listen to and the songs I learn on piano.

What do you love most about composing music?
I'm influenced by a ton of styles and genres- classical, mainly, but also jazz, gospel, traditional Chinese, pop, experimental- and with composition, I get to mix them all and make something unique!

Tell us a little about how the poetry influenced your IYWCC composition.
I remember reading "Nothing Gold can Stay" in English in 7th grade, not thinking anything of it besides that it was about nature. When I re-familiarized myself with it for this purpose, though, I saw it as something that describes how phases in our lives come and leave so fast. The imagery in "So Eden sank to grief" in particular gave the impression of total decay and spiraling out of control. In my piece, I wanted to represent that by having each key signature barely stay for a few bars before a new motif is introduced, and each time, it is so different and a bit more chaotic.

What was your process/approach to composing your piece for IYWCC?
A lot of this piece was based on improvisation, both for the piano and vocals. I wanted it to begin in a strict time, then transition to something a bit more free and spiraling. I played around with how I wanted each section to sound and how to connect them all, which was a pretty fun process. I realized I like the feeling of newness and impulsivity as I changed bits and pieces, so I left room for improvisation in the final score as well!

What is your advice to someone who is interested in composing a piece but does not know where to start?
I keep a mental checklist of techniques and ideas I want to use in future compositions. When I don't know where to start, I can already return to that list, and see if I can use that as a jumping point. But if I really really can't think of something for lack of sufficient brain cells, I start playing other peoples' works, listening to different pieces, and continually building my musical toolbox.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I love food!