Ho, Alice Ping Yee

Alice Ping Yee Ho

Biography

Born: 1960

Country: Hong Kong; (emigrate Canada 1982)

Studies: Indiana University (B.M.), University of Toronto (M.M.)

Teachers: John Eaton, John Beckwith, Brian Ferneyhough

Website: http://www.alicepingyeeho.com

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One of the most acclaimed composers writing in Canada today, Hong Kong-born Alice Ping Yee Ho has written in many musical genres and received numerous national and international awards, including the du Maurier Arts Ltd. Canadian Composers Competition, MACRO International Composition Competition, Boston Metro Opera International Competition, Martin Hunter’s Music Award, Luxembourg International Composition Prize and International League of Women Composers Competition.

Critics have called her music dramatic and graceful, while praising its “organic flow of imagination,” colorful orchestration, and emotive qualities. Influences evident in her proudly eclectic approach include Chinese folk and operatic idioms, Japanese Taiko and African drumming, and jazz. Her ongoing goal is to explore new musical styles that are provocative to the ears.

“Colors and tonality are two attractive resources to me: they form certain mental images that connect to audiences in a very basic way.” [AH]

Often featured at national and international new music festivals such as ISCM World Music Days, Ottawa Chamberfest, Demark's CRUSH New Music Festival, Asian Music Week in Japan, etc. Her works have also been performed by major ensembles and soloists including Finnish Lapland Chamber Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, China National Symphony, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Polish Radio Choir; the Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Victoria, and Windsor Symphonies; the Luxembourg Sinfonietta, Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Penderecki String Quartet, percussionists Sumire Yoshihara and Beverley Johnston, violist Rivka Golani, and St. John's Duo Concertante. Her discography includes releases on the Centrediscs, Blue Griffin, Electra and Phoenix labels. 2013 concert highlight includes a new opera “Lesson of Da Ji”, commissioned by Toronto Masques Theatre with librettist Marjorie Chan.

Ms. Ho holds a Bachelor of Music degree in composition with high distinction from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Toronto. Her teachers have included John Eaton (USA), Brian Ferneyhough(Germany), and John Beckwith (Canada).

She is a noted classical pianist and an active advocate of contemporary music. She had performed in many new music festivals, including a solo piano recital recorded by CBC Radio 2 in which she premiered Tan Dun’s solo piano work “Traces II”. She now makes her home in Toronto.

Works for Percussion

Ballade for An Ancient Warrior - Multiple Percussion; Voice; Chamber Ensemble
Bao Miao - Percussion Duo; Flute; Harp; Viola
Doubles (Alice HO) - Percussion Quartet
Evolving Elements - Marimba; String Quartet
Forest Rain - Marimba/Vibraphone
Kami - Marimba; Percussion Trio
Kuklõn - Marimba
MaViBa - Marimba; Violin; Double Bass
Melange - Percussion Quartet; String Orchestra
Ming - Multiple Percussion
Radiantia: Concerto for Solo Percussion & Orchestra - Multiple Percussion; Orchestra
Sun Goddess (concerto for drumming percussion quartet and orchestra) - Percussion Quartet; Orchestra
TorQ Machine - Percussion Quartet; Electronics
WAR! - Multiple Percussion; Pianos (2); Electronics; Speaking Voices
Wolves - Multiple Percussion; Electronics
Woman Runs With Wolves - Multiple Percussion; Electronics