Du Yun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Du Yun
Du Yun at Daguan theatre, at Shanghai Project opening
Background information
Native name	杜韵 (Simplified Chinese), 杜韻 (Traditional Chinese)
Born	(1977-06-18) June 18, 1977 (age 48) Shanghai, China
Genres	Avant-garde, experimental, punk, classical, crossover, folk, electronic, alternative rock, pop, World
Occupation(s)	composer musician performance artist producer
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Modern Sky, National Sawdust Tracks, Oxingale, Pentatone, New Focus Records, Deutsche Grammophon
Associated acts	International Contemporary Ensemble, Ok Miss

Du Yun (traditional Chinese: 杜韻, simplified Chinese: 杜韵) is a talented Chinese-American composer, performer, and vocalist. She also creates amazing performance art. In 2017, she won the famous Pulitzer Prize for Music for her opera called Angel's Bone. An opera is like a play where most of the words are sung.

In 2018, Du Yun was named one of the "38 Great Immigrants" by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. She also received a Grammy nomination in 2019 for her work Air Glow. The UK's Classic FM even listed her Pulitzer win as one of the top ways classical music changed in the 2010s. In 2024, Du Yun became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Du Yun

Du Yun was born in Shanghai, China. She started playing the piano when she was just four years old. She went to the primary school at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to study piano. Later, she studied how to compose music at the middle school there.

Du Yun then moved to the United States. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. After that, she got her Ph.D. in music composition from Harvard University.

Growing up, Du Yun's parents worked in factories. She collected cassette tapes from artists like Faye Wong, Michael Jackson, and Pink Floyd. She says Chinese pop musicians like Dou Wei and Faye Wong greatly influenced her music. Filmmakers Wong Kar-Wai and Quentin Tarantino also inspired her style.

In high school, she bought CDs with cool covers. This is how she discovered bands like Cocteau Twins, Björk, and Kraftwerk. She loved Krautrock and psychedelic rock music.

During her first year of college, she discovered trip hop music. This psychedelic style later appeared in many of her own works. In 2012, she released her first album, Shark in You. It featured many styles, from experimental dance music to jazz electronic music.

The famous director Stan Lai has worked with Du Yun twice. He said her music mixes classical sounds with pop and folk music.

Career Highlights

Du Yun won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2017 for her opera Angel's Bone. This made her the first Asian woman to win this award in music! The opera was also very popular in Hong Kong.

Du Yun has taught music at universities. She joined the faculty at the State University of New York-Purchase in 2006. In 2017, she became a Professor of Composition at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. She was also a visiting professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

From 2014 to 2018, Du Yun was the Artistic Director of the MATA Festival in New York City. This festival helps new and experimental music artists.

Du Yun loves to perform her music. She has performed in many places, including Pakistan and China. She also leads her own band called Ok Miss. It can be a rock band or a chamber music group.

In 2020, Modern Sky, a big record label in China, signed a three-year deal with Du Yun. Du Yun lives and works in New York City. She uses her full name, Du Yun, for everything.

Musical Creations

Du Yun creates many types of music. She writes pieces for single instruments, electroacoustic music, and chamber music (for small groups of instruments). She also writes for orchestras, opera, and even punk songs.

Her music has been played all over the world. Famous places include Carnegie Hall in New York and the Guangzhou Opera House in China. She has written music for the New York Philharmonic and the LA Philharmonic. She has also written for solo artists like Hilary Hahn.

On April 10, 2017, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for her opera Angel's Bone.

She also composed the musical Dim Sum Warriors. This musical is based on a graphic novel about Kung Fu-fighting dumplings. The musical was produced by Stan Lai. It opened in Shanghai in 2017 to sold-out audiences. Then it toured 25 cities in China.

Du Yun worked with Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrrar on a piece called "Where We Lost Our Shadows." This work was inspired by a Syrian refugee family's journey from Greece to Berlin. It was created for three soloists, orchestra, and video.

In 2020, her opera Sweet Land premiered in Los Angeles. She co-composed it with Raven Chacon. Sweet Land was named a "best classical music moment" in 2020 by the Los Angeles Times. It also won the "Best 2021 New Opera" award.

Her concert music is published by G. Schirmer, Inc..

Performing Artist

Du Yun at rehearsal

People describe Du Yun's performances as "utterly extraordinary" and "unrestrained." She truly brings her music to life on stage.

She leads her band, Ok Miss, which performs her unique music.

Visual Art Creations

Du Yun has also created works for art exhibitions. These include the Guangzhou Triennial and The Shanghai Project.

Making a Difference

Du Yun is a strong supporter of women, racial equality, and social justice. She believes that everyone should have a fair chance in their careers.

She founded the Pan Asia Sounding Festival in 2018. She told a New York news channel that she wanted to "demystify Asian culture." She also wanted to "question who owns the culture" and bring people together.

Du Yun also started a global project called FutureTradition. This project supports traditional folk arts and helps artists from different regions work together.

Musical Works

Music Albums

Studio albums

• Sweet Land (2021, Industry Records)
• A Cockroach's Tarantella (2020, Modern Sky)

  Du Yun, JACK Quartet

• Dinosaur Scar (2018, Tundra)

  International Contemporary Ensemble, Du Yun

  Air Glow – This album received a Grammy Nomination in 2019.

• Angel's Bone (2017, National Sawdust Tracks)

  Lead cast: Abigail Fischer, Kyle Pfortmiller, Jennifer Charles, Kyle Bielfield

  The Choir of Trinity Wall Street

  Julian Wachner, conductor

• Shark in You (2012, New Focus Recordings)

Compilation Albums

• Retrospective (2018, Deutsche Grammophon)

  Featuring Hilary Hahn, violin

• Overtures to Bach (2016, Oxingale Records/Pendatone)

  Featuring Matt Haimovitz, 'cello

  Nominated for a Juno Award in 2017.

• Orbit (2015, Oxingale Records/Pendatone)

  Featuring Matt Haimovitz, 'cello

• In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores (2013, Deutsche Grammophon)

  Featuring Hilary Hahn, violin; Cory Smythe, piano

  Won a Grammy Award in 2014.

• Figment (2009, Oxingale Records)

  Featuring Matt Haimovitz, 'cello

• Aliento (2009, New Focus Recordings)

  Featuring Claire Chase, flute and electronics

• Abandoned Time (2008, New Focus Recordings)

  Featuring International Contemporary Ensemble

Collaborations with Other Artists

Du Yun has worked with many amazing artists. Some of her notable collaborations include:

• Visual artist Shahzia Sikander
• Flutist Claire Chase
• Librettist Royce Vavrek
• Pipa player Wu Man

Awards and Recognitions

• 2024: Elected Member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2023: Centennial Medal, Harvard University
• 2023: Vilcek Prize in Music
• 2022: Creative Capital Award
• 2021: Best 2021 New Opera - Music Critics Association of North America Award for Best New Opera - for Sweet Land
• 2021: Asia Society Hong Kong Center – Honoree in Performing Arts
• 2021: American Academy in Berlin – Berlin Prize
• 2021: Foundation for Contemporary Arts – Music/Sound
• 2019: Beijing Music Festival – Artist of the Year
• 2019: BraVo International Professional Music Award – Moscow – Best Classical Composition
• 2018: Great Immigrants – Carnegie Foundation
• 2018: Guggenheim Fellowship
• 2017: Pulitzer Prize for Music – for her opera Angel's Bone
• 2017: Asian Cultural Council
• 2016: New York Foundation for the Arts, Sound, fellow
• 2015: Civitella Ranieri Foundation
• 2011: Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Elaine Lebenbom Award
• 2011: Philadelphia Music Project – Pew Charitable Trusts
• 2009: Rockefeller Foundation – Bellagio
• 2008: Chamber Music America
• 2007: Fromm Music Foundation