Photo credit: Wil Lau

Tony K.T. Leung is a Toronto based composer whose music has been performed and broadcast in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Korea, Luxembourg, Ukraine, the USA and Canada by leading contemporary music ensembles. Recordings of works by the composer include CD releases from Luxembourg Sinfonietta, ERMMedia, and Canadian Electroacoustic Community.

Born in Hong Kong, Tony discovered music through his first instrument, the erhu, and later the cello. As a youth, he arranged music for a Chinese orchestra, which sparked an early interest in western music and composition. From 1989 to 1992, he studied composition privately with University of Toronto Professor Chan Ka Nin. He received further training through workshops with Arraymusic, Conductors Guild, Esprit Orchestra, National Arts Centre, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and New Adventures in Sound Art. Other performers of his music include Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, Vienna Saxophone Quartet, Motion Ensemble, York Symphony Orchestra, and Regina Symphony Orchestra. He has been invited to speak on contemporary music at Ryerson University.

In 2003, his chamber music “Six Degrees of Separation” was selected for the ALEA III International Composition Competition finalist concert in Boston. In 2006, his orchestral work “In the beginning” was released on the ERMMedia CD “Masterworks of the New Era,” Vol. 9, performed by Kiev Philharmonic.

As a conductor, he has directed Toronto Chinese Orchestra, Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, York University Chinese Music Ensemble, and Richmond Hill Christian Community Church chamber ensemble.

Awards/Commissions/Grants

• 2010 – Toronto Chinese Orchestra commission
• 2009 – Canada Council for the Arts travel grant to attend Thunder Bay Symphony concert
• 2007 – Sound Travels residency, New Adventures in Sound Art
• 2006 – Canada Council for the Arts travel grant to attend premiere in Regina
• 2006 – Arraymusic Young Composers’ Workshop
• 2006 – Canada Council for the Arts travel grant to attend Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble workshop
• 2004 – Toronto Arts Council Music Creators and Composers Program
• 2003 – Toronto Arts Council Music Creators and Composers Program
• 2003 – Canada Council for the Arts travel grant to attend ALEA III International Composition Competition finalist concert
• 2003 – Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble commission
• 2002 – Canada Council for the Arts travel grant to attend New Music North Festival
• 2001 – Toronto Arts Council Music Creators and Composers Program
• 1996 – First prize in the Peel Music Festival for composition
• 1991 – Two first prizes in the Kawanis Music Festival for composition

Affiliations

• CMC (Canadian Music Centre)
• CFAMC (Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers)
• CLC (Canadian League of Composers)
• Hong Kong Composers’ Guild
• SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers of Canada)

Performances/broadcasts (including upcoming)