Ding Yi Ma Ma, Ding Yi

Ding Yi Ma graduated in composition from the Department of Music at Indiana University at Bloomington in 2003. After graduating, he returned to Taiwan and taught successively at Tainan Woman’s College of Arts and Technology and National Pingtung University of Education; he currently teaches in the Department of Music at Soochow University. In the United States, he studied with composers Claude Baker, David Dzubay, Eugene O’Brien and Frederick Fox; in Taiwan, with Professor Lu Yen and Professor 駱正榮.

In recent years, in addition to writing instrumental music, he has collaborated with Professor Mei Zhong of Ball State University in the United States on new arrangements of Chinese folk songs. In 2004, his folk song arrangements received world premieres in San Francisco and at Ball State University in Indiana. His Newly Arranged Chinese Folk Songs, Volume I was released worldwide by Leyerle Publications of New York in June 2005, with scores, commentary and a CD.

In addition, his Moon Reflects on Two Strings for Cello Solo (2002) received a Merit Award in the solo category of the 2003 Ministry of Education Literature and Arts Awards; “Formosa Nostalgia” (憶～福爾摩莎, 2003–2004) won second prize in the chamber music category of the Council for Cultural Affairs’ 2004 Formosa Composition Competition; and “Ceremony for Four Percussionists” (為四位打擊樂演奏者的「祭禮」, 2001–2002) was selected for performance at the 26th Asian Composers League Conference and Festival.