“His compositions speak with an honest
expression, are well thought out in structure
and compelling arcs of sound. Roydon will
impact contemporary music in Canada.”
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging
Artist Award Citation
About
Named one of CBC Music’s Top “30 under 30” Canadian Classical Musicians (2017), Dr. Roydon Tse is an award-winning composer, pianist and educator. He holds degrees in composition from the University of British Columbia (B.Mus) and the University of Toronto (M.Mus, D.M.A). His music has been performed and commissioned by major orchestras and ensembles in North America, Europe and Asia. Born in Hong Kong, Roydon studied in the UK and Canada, and currently lives and works in Toronto.
Recent & Upcoming Projects
Upcoming Events
December 2021
SORI Percussion
New Commissioned Work
for Percussion Quartet
Virtual Premiere
Seoul, South Korea
November 21, 2021
Tianjin Juilliard Ensemble
3rd Tianjin Chamber Music Festival
Variations on Tang Poetry
Live Premiere
Tianjin, China
July 30, 2021
International Double Reed Society
IDRS National Conference
To Earth (IDRS Commission)
Virtual Premiere
Boulder, CO, USA
News
- SORI Percussion Quartet CommissionJuly 9 – I am happy to announce that the up-and-coming South Korean percussion group, SORI Percussion, has commissioned a percussion quartet to be premiered in Seoul and online in December 2021. This new commission will combine western percussion instruments with the Korean soribuk, a Korean barrel drum used in Korean pansori. Looking forward toContinue reading “SORI Percussion Quartet Commission”
- Toronto Symphony Announces 2021/22 SeasonJun 16 – The Toronto Symphony Orchestra recently announced their 2021/22 season with hopes to return to in-person concerts starting in November. I am excited to announce that my orchestral work, “Unrelenting Sorrow” (TSO Commission) will be programmed alongside Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in June 2022, conducted by none other than Music Director Gustavo Gimeno. ThereContinue reading “Toronto Symphony Announces 2021/22 Season”
- New Works for 2021 (Part 1)June 1 – We are almost halfway through 2021 and it has been a busy year thus far with many pieces written as well as many projects being prepared for the remainder of the year. This post is a quick summary of the titles that you can expect to hear premiered soon that was createdContinue reading “New Works for 2021 (Part 1)”
- OAC funding for Esprit Orchestra CommissionApril 27 – I am a little late to the party when it comes to announcements but I am delighted to announce that the Ontario Arts Council has fully funded a new commission from the Esprit Orchestra, to be premiered in April 2022! It is still a long ways away, but one hopes that byContinue reading “OAC funding for Esprit Orchestra Commission”
Reviews
Black Waltz by Roydon Tse displayed intense fragments of gesture exquisitely layered to create a sound world best described as “if Ives went dancing to the waltz,” showing off impeccable control of structure and orchestration.
Kevin Baldwin – I Care if You Listen
Another highlight proved to be the WSO premiere of Roydon Tse’s imaginative Jest…[Roydon] clearly knows how to write a light hearted bon-bon brimming with youthful vitality, underscored by his knack for creating tightly crafted, textural effects
Holly Harries – Winnipeg Free Press
The concert opened with contemporary pieces entitled Three Musings by prodigious Canadian composer Roydon Tse. I was immediately impressed by the delicacy and elegance with which the orchestra handled Tse’s almost Mozartian orchestral transparency.
Sean Farrell – Prince George Citizen
Contact
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