About soundSCAPE
soundSCAPE Composition and Performance Exchange gathers early-career participants and world-class faculty artists to support young composers through the commissioning and performance of their works, to broaden young performers’ musical experiences by engaging in lessons, coachings, workshops, and concerts that promote creativity and blur traditional performer-composer roles, and to connect participants with their global peers while exploring the language and practice of contemporary music. soundSCAPE is an international festival that emphasizes inclusivity. Students of all backgrounds and nationalities are encouraged to apply.
Aiyun Huang, Artistic Director
Aiyun Huang enjoys a musical life as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher, researcher and producer. Globally recognized since winning the 2002 First Prize and Audience Prize of the Geneva International Music Competition (awarded in Percussion only three times since 1939), Huang has commissioned and premiered over two hundred works in her two decades as a soloist and chamber musician. She currently leads the percussion program at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. She joined soundSCAPE in 2009.
Nathanael May, Founder
As a festival producer, concert organizer, recording artist, consultant, educator, and pianist, Nathanael May seeks to open doors for musicians in today’s competitive marketplace.
Dr. May was appointed Chair of the School of Fine Arts at Missouri Western State University in 2020, where he also lectures as a Professor of Piano. His students are winners of local and international competitions, and have been accepted with full scholarship for graduate study in performance at institutions throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Dr. May has received faculty awards for Teaching Excellence, Outstanding Scholarship, and Service Leadership in recognition of his achievements at Missouri Western.
Nikki Joshi, Executive Director
Nikki Joshi is a Boston-based percussionist and arts administrator. Previously based in Toronto, she completed the 2018 Rebanks Family Fellowship at the Glenn Gould School. A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Nikki has worked closely with composers including Roger Reynolds, Vinko Globokar, Kotoka Suzuki, Steve Reich, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Dai Fujikura, and Jo Kondo. She has performed with ensembles including Continuum, Against the Grain Theatre, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and New Music Concerts. In 2019, she performed her original composition accompanying artist Sin Wai Kin at MOCA Toronto.
She has given lectures and masterclasses at University of Michigan, Boston Conservatory, Montserrat College of Art, and the University of Toronto. Nikki holds a Master’s Degree in percussion from McGill University, and a Bachelor’s Degree, Performer’s Certificate, and Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. She has served as Executive Director of soundSCAPE Festival since 2019.
soundSCAPE is a non-profit, 501c(3) public charity as designated by the Internal Revenue Service. Selection to participate in the festival is based solely on artistic merit; evaluation of application/audition materials as to levels of individual achievement and artistry. soundSCAPE does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and release of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, visitors and guests.