PC Shalan & Paul

Dr. Roydon Tse

DMA, MMus, BMus, LRSM
Pronouns: He/him

Positions

Sessional Instructor

Faculty of Arts, School of Creative and Performing Arts: Music

Contact information

Email

Web presence

Composer Webpage

For media enquiries, contact

hoichak.tse@ucalgary.ca

Preferred method of communication

Email

Background

Educational Background

DMA Music Composition, University of Toronto, 2019

MMus Music Composition, University of Toronto, 2015

BMus Music Composition, University of British Columbia, 2013

Biography

  Canadian composer Roydon Tse seeks to communicate to audiences from all backgrounds with music that reflects our lived experiences, inspired by the challenges posed by climate change, the complexities of grief, and the ever-evolving cultural tapestry of our world.  

His orchestral music has been conducted by Marin Alsop, Gustavo Gimeno, & Gemma New, in performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Shanghai Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Esprit Orchestra, Tafelmusik, and members of the Paris Opera and La Scala Orchestras. His vocal and stage works have been performed by the Atlanta Opera, Opera Atelier de Montreal, Vancouver Chamber Choir and Vancouver Bach Choir while his chamber music has been performed by the Verona Quartet, Cecilia String Quartet, and the Locrian Chamber Players. His music has appeared in venues such as the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts on tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra celebrating 45 years of US-China diplomatic relations.  

Named one of CBC Music’s Top “30 under 30” musicians, Roydon is the recipient of multiple awards for his music, including seven SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, the Washington International Composition Prize, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta’s Emerging Artist Award, iSing! International Composition Prize, and the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize.  His work has been supported by multiple Calgary Arts Development, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Council grants.   

Born in Hong Kong, Roydon studied in the UK before completing degrees in music composition at the Universities of British Columbia and Toronto.  He was as a teaching artist for the Canadian Opera Company (2019-2023) and co-directs the Lunenburg Composition Academy for emerging composers.  He currently teaches composition and musicianship at the University of Calgary. 

Research

Areas of Research

Orchestral, Vocal, Chamber, and Instrumental Composition Methods, Traditional Music of East Asia, Intersectionality of Climate Change, Psychology and Music Composition

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
MUSI 341 Composition I
MUSI 225B Musicianship I

Projects

Double Concerto for Dizi and Cello (2025)

Co-commissioned by the Kensington Sinfonia and GaiLan Ensemble
With Support from the Canada Council for the Arts
Jiajia Li, dizi & Andrea Case, cello
Premiere June 1, 2025

Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra (2024)

Co-commissioned by the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music.
Premiere April 4, 2025.

Living Waters (2024)

For Violin, Cello, Bass Clarinet and Percussion
Commissioned by the Moab Music Festival for the Colorado River
Premiered August 31, 2024

Awards

  • Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize, Metcalf Foundation. 2023
  • Chalmers Arts Fellowship, Ontario Arts Council. 2023
  • SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Composers, SOCAN Foundation. 2021
  • SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Composers, SOCAN Foundation. 2020
  • University of Toronto Graduating Award, Faculty of Music. 2019
  • SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Composers, SOCAN Foundation. 2019
  • Lieutenant Governor of Alberta's Emerging Artist Prize, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards. 2018
  • Vancouver Bach Choir Choral Composition Competition, 2018
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Government of Ontario. 2018
  • CBC Music's Top 30 Under 30 Classical Musicians, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2017
  • SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Composers, SOCAN Foundation. 2016
  • Sir James Lougheed Award of Distinction, Government of Alberta. 2016
  • SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Composers, SOCAN Foundation. 2015
  • Sir James Lougheed Award of Distinction, Government of Alberta. 2015
  • Washington International Composition Competition Grand Prize, 2015
  • Canadian University Music Society Student Composition Prize, 2015
  • CMC Prairies Emerging Composer Prize, Canadian Music Center. 2014
  • Arts Graduate Award, Government of Alberta. 2014
  • University of British Columbia Cooke Topping Medal, UBC School of Music. 2013
  • Rhodes Scholarship, Nominee, University of British Columbia. 2013
  • Trio Anima Mundi International Composition Competition, Grand Prize, 2013
  • STANTEC Emerging Artist Prize, Edmonton Mayor's Celebration for the Arts. 2009

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