BIO
Dr. Stephen Yip was born in Hong Kong in 1971, where he grew up living under the same roof with his younger sister, older brother, his parents, and his grandparents. At the age of 14, he had the opportunity to become an organist at his Catholic church. His interest in experimental music fostered his decision to attend the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the only music school in Hong Kong at the time. After graduating, Stephen resolved to further his musical aspirations in the U.S. by pursuing a doctor of musical arts degree (D.M.A.) at at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas. In the U.S., he began to develop his unique avant garde style, incorporating his Chinese roots with Western influences. Stephen’s compositions have been performed in ensembles and orchestras across America, Europe, and Asia. He has attended several major music festivals and has received an array of composition prizes. He is a member of the Society of Composers, Inc. (SCI), National Association of Composers/USA (NACUSA), and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Currently, Stephen is on the music faculty at Houston Community College and works as a freelance composer. In this interview, Stephen discusses his childhood, musical journey, and heritage. He illustrates how early influences from his family and his faith sparked his interest in music, as well as how mentors and external influences have nurtured that interest. Stephen explains his contribution to the Houston community as a music professor at Houston Community College, where he grants his students the knowledge and freedom to create their own paths in music.