Ben Morris is a composer whose music tells unconventional stories and crosses genre boundaries. He is Assistant Professor of Composition at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Described as “beautiful, lyrical” and brimming with “unexpected harmonic shifts” (International Trumpet Guild), the music of Macedonian-American composer Zach Gulaboff Davis centers on the core elements of musical narrative: Emotion, drama, and expression. The winner of the 2019 American Prize in Composition (Vocal Chamber Music division), Zach maintains an active schedule as a composer and collaborator across the globe. His works have been performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Bulgaria’s National Palace of Culture, Norway’s Arctic Cathedral, Hamburg’s Zinnschmelze Cultural Center, NYU Steinhardt and Shanghai, the DiMenna Center, International Trumpet Guild and National Saxophone Alliance conferences, and at schools and conservatories throughout the country. Since beginning compositional studies in 2013, Zach’s works gave garnered over 20 national and international awards. With degrees in composition from Mannes College of Music and the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Zach is also active as a pianist and conductor, having appeared as concerto soloist, chamber musician, solo recitalist, and champion of young composers’ works on the podium. In his spare time, Zach is active in American Kennel Club events, traveling the country as a licensed Dog Agility judge. Don’t ask him about the (countless) similarities between composing and designing Agility courses unless you have hours to spare! Born in Los Angeles and raised in Oregon, Zach currently resides in Jersey City, NJ.

Yucheng “Alex” Zhang’s compositions have been performed and recorded throughout U.S. and China by various ensembles including Illinois Modern Ensemble, Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra, University of Northern Colorado Chamber Choir, Linfield Concert Choir, L’abri Trio, Music&Friends Chamber Ensemble, Duo Zonda, Durations Trio, as well as features with Charlotte New Music Festival, North American Saxophone Alliance Biannual Conference, Atlantic Music Festival, and NYC Contemporary Music Salon. Originally from Chengdu, China, he is currently a faculty member of East Tennessee State University, teaching music theory and composition. Before moving to Tennessee, Alex was a faculty member of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Music as a lecturer in composition-theory; he served as the music theory Graduate Part-Time Instructor of record at Texas Tech and a faculty member at Texas Tech University Band and Orchestra Camp. He also served as president of the Society of Composers Inc at Texas Tech chapter.

I’m a doctoral student in viola who is NOT a composer but likes to compose just for fun :)

Yucheng &quot;Alex&quot; Zhang is following

Yucheng "Alex" Zhang is following