Yucheng “Alex” Zhang is actively involved as both a composer and arranger. His compositions have been performed and recorded throughout U.S. and China by various ensembles, including Illinois Modern Ensemble, Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra, University of Northern Colorado Chamber Choir, Linfield Concert Choir, various instrumental and vocal ensembles at East Tennessee State University, Duo Zonda, Kinetic Quartet at the Peabody Institute, chamber ensemble at Guangxi Arts University, as well as features with Charlotte New Music Festival, North American Saxophone Alliance Biannual Conference, Keyboard Festival at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Atlantic Music Festival, and NYC Contemporary Music Symposium. He is a member of the renowned composer collective Consonance (CNSNC). Alex earned his DMA in composition at Texas Tech University and an MM in music theory and composition at the University of Northern Colorado. His previous composition teachers include Jennifer Jolley, Peter Fischer, Robert Ehle, Eric Alexander, and Richard Bourassa.

Alex is also immersed in music education and pedagogy, having taught choir, music theory, and composition at both the collegiate and secondary education levels. He was a research assistant for a faculty research endeavor at Linfield University Department of Music, aiding his professor’s dissertation on topics of aural skills and improvisation in collegiate classrooms, which has been published in the Columbia University archive of doctoral studies. Alex completed a post-baccalaureate teaching licensure program in music education at the University of Northern Colorado. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Composition, Music Theory, and Aural Skills at East Tennessee State University. Before joining East Tennessee State University, he was a Lecturer in Composition-Theory at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Alex served as the music theory and composition Graduate Part-Time Instructor of record at Texas Tech University, and he was a faculty member at TTU Band and Orchestra Camp.

Education:

D.M.A. Composition—Texas Tech University
M.M. Theory and Composition—University of Northern Colorado
B.A. Music—Linfield University