D.M.A – University of Toronto
M.Mus – University of Toronto
B.Mus – University of British Columbia
L.R.S.M in Piano Performance – ABRSM U.K.
Biography
Chinese-Canadian Composer Dr. 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, and Bright Sheng in performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Shanghai Philharmonic, Macao Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Esprit Orchestra, Tafelmusik, and members of the Minnesota, Paris Opera and La Scala Orchestras. A recent focus on vocal works resulted in performances 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 major venues such as the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and most recently, Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts on tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra and iSing! celebrating 45 years of US-China diplomatic relations.
He has received commissions from numerous organizations, including the Moab Music Festival, Red Cedar Chamber Music, the Steinberg & Fleezanis Foundation, International Double Reed Society, County Hall Arts UK, the Canadian Art Song Project, Tianjin Juilliard School, City Opera Vancouver, Hong Kong’s Musicus Society, Edmonton Symphony, Esprit Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming projects include a new concerto for string quartet commissioned by the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra & Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, and a double concerto for dizi and cello commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts.
His music has appeared in festivals such as the Thailand International Composition Festival, Musica Nova Helsinki, [`Tactus] International Composers’ Forum, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival. Roydon was the Colorado Wind Ensemble’s Artist-in-Residence and was the 2024 featured composer for the Texas A&M SoundWaves Festival in Corpus Christi, where twelve compositions spanning fourteen years of his career were performed by student ensembles and faculty.
Named one of CBC Music’s “Top 30 under 30” musicians, Roydon has won multiple awards, 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 generously supported by multiple Calgary Arts Development, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Council grants, and his research into East Asian music was funded by the Chalmers Arts Fellowship.
Born in Hong Kong, Roydon completed degrees in music composition at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto, where he completed his doctorate under the supervision of Dr. Norbert Palej. A dedicated educator, Roydon served as a teaching artist for the Canadian Opera Company and co-directs the annual Lunenburg Composition Academy for emerging composers in Nova Scotia. He taught at the University of Calgary before serving as Assistant Professor of Composition and Theory at the University of Saskatchewan, beginning in Fall 2025.
Awards
▪ Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize
▪ Chalmers Arts Fellowship
▪ Cape Breton Chorale Composition Prize
▪ SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, 2nd Prize (Solo & Duet)
▪ Fondation JM Canada Young Musicians Competition, Artistic Prize
▪ U.S. Naval Band Call for Scores, Finalist
▪ iSing! International Composition Competition, Grand Prize
▪ Mississauga Symphony Orchestra Composers Competition, 1st Prize
▪ University of Toronto Faculty of Music Graduating Award
▪ SOCAN Foundation Award for Young Composers, 1st Prize (Vocal)
▪ Cantabile Choirs BIPOC Composition Competition, Honorable Mention
▪ Coups de Vents International Composition Competition, Honorable Mention
▪ Ottawa Pops Orchestra Call for Scores, Winner
▪ Johanna Metcalf Foundation Performing Arts Prizes, Protégé Prize
▪ Lyra Harp Society Costello Composition Competition, Winner
▪ New Ariel Piano Composition Competition, Finalist
▪ Thailand International Rapee Sagarik Composition Prize, Finalist
▪ Lieutenant Governor of Alberta’s Emerging Artist Award
▪ Vancouver Bach Choir Choral Composition Competition, Winner
▪ Emilio del Rosario Foundation Emerging Composer Competition, Winner
▪ Bloomington Symphony Orchestra Call for Scores, Winner
▪ Musequal Composer Competition, Finalist
▪ BMI Student Composers Award, Finalist
▪ Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra Young Composers Competition, 1st Prize
▪ Warren County School of Music Young Composers Competition, 1st Prize
▪ Sir James Lougheed Award of Distinction (2016)
▪ SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, 1st Prize (Large Ensemble)
▪ SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, 3rd Prize (Solo & Duet)
▪ Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition, Winner
▪ Locrian Chamber Players Call for Scores
▪ University of Oklahoma 4×4 Prizes for Composers, Finalist
▪ Austin Civic Orchestra Composition Competition, 2nd Prize
▪ East Carolina University Orchestral Composition Competition, Winner
▪ University of Toronto String Quartet Composition Competition, Winner
▪ University of Toronto Friendship Orchestra Composition Competition, Winner
▪ Washington International Composition Competition, 1st Prize
▪ Sir James Lougheed Award of Distinction (2015)
▪ SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers, 2nd Prize (Solo & Duet)
▪ Canadian University Music Society’s Student Composition Prize
▪ Chengdu International New Music Composition Prize, Finalist
▪ Land’s End Ensemble National Composer’s Competition, 2nd Prize
▪ Alberta Arts Graduate Award
▪ Etobicoke Philharmonic Young Composers Competition, 1st Prize
▪ Orchestre Nouvellé Générataion Composers Competition, Winner
▪ Canadian Music Center Prairies’ Emerging Composer Prize
▪ Mississauga Festival Choir Composition Competition, Winner
▪ Toronto Symphony Orchestra Call for Scores, Selected Composer
▪ Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Call for Score, Selected Composer
▪ Trio Anima Mundi International Composition Prize
▪ Robert Avalon International Composition Competition, 2nd Prize
▪ Vanguard Premieres International Composition Competition, Young Composer Prize
▪ Vancouver Chamber Choir Young Composers’ Competition, Best of BC Prize
▪ University of British Columbia Cooke Topping Memorial Medal
▪ University of British Columbia Wesbrook Scholarship
▪ Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra Composition Competition, Winner
▪ University of British Columbia Dean’s Prize in Composition
▪ Russell Patrick Arts Undergraduate Research Award, Runner Up
▪ Land’s End Ensemble National Composers’ Competition, Winner
▪ Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra Composition Competition, 1st Prize
▪ Edmonton Mayor’s Celebration for the Arts STANTEC Emerging Artist Award
Roydon Tse 