Zhou Tian (; born 1981, in Hangzhou, China) is a Chinese-American composer of contemporary classical music. His Concerto for Orchestra received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition in 2018, making him the first Chinese-born composer and the second Asian composer (following Tōru Takemitsu in 1995) honored in that category. His composition have been performed by orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, London Philharmonic, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, and Shanghai Symphony, where he served as the Artist-in-Residence. In 2019, thirteen symphony orchestras commissioned his composition “Transcend” in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad's completion. In 2022, he received the Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Award from the American Bandmasters Association, becoming the first Asian-American winner in the award's 66-year history.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Zhou Tian earned his Masters of Music degree from the Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California. He is associate professor of composition at Michigan State University.
Compositions
Symphonic works and concertos
Violin Concerto "Night Tour" (2022) Flute Concerto (2022) Metropolis (2022) Gift (2019) Transcend (2019) Cello Concerto "Flowing Sleeves" (2018) Rise (2018) Concerto for Orchestra (2016) Viaje (flute and string orchestra) (2016) Joy (string orchestra) (2016) Broken Ink (2013) Trace (2013) A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2009) The Grand Canal (erhu, ruan, Chinese opera singer, mixed chorus, and orchestra) (2008) First Sight (2007) The Palace of Nine Perfections (2004)
Symphonic band
Sinfonia (2022) Nocturne (2021) Seeker's Scherzo (2019) Petals of Fire (2017)
Chamber music (2-6 musicians)
Irises (flute & piano) (2023) Hidden Grace (flute, viola & harp) (2023) Night Tour (violin & piano) (2022) Flowing Sleeves (cello & piano quintet) (2021) Joy (string quintet) (2019) Hundred Antiques (erhu, pipa, violin, cello & percussion) (2018) Viaje (flute & string quartet / flute, cello & piano) (2015) Morning after the Deluge (violin, piano & string quartet / clarinet, piano & string quartet) (2014) Night-Shining White (brass quintet) (2014) Red Trees, Wrinkled Cliffs (guitar, violin, viola and cello) (2012) String Quartet No. 2 (2010) Unheard Wishes (clarinet & piano) (2009) A Crown for Sonia (soprano, cello & piano) (2008) Reading an Anthology of Chinese Poems...(narrator, flute, viola & harp) (2008) Duo (violin & viola) (2006) Ye (two cellos & piano) (2005) Morning Call (brass quintet) (2002) Piano Trio (2002) Three Chinese Songs (voice & piano) (2002) String Quartet No. 1 (2000) Duet (flute & piano) (1999)
Solo instrument
Prelude (piano) (2023) Majestic Bells (piano) (2022) Crystal (piano) (2018) Blowing Westward (marimba) (2008) Rhyme (cello) (2005) Prism (piano) (2004)
Chorus
Trade Winds (a cappella) (2019) Iris and Butterfly (mixed chorus & string quartet) (2002)