Featured Composer: Andy Akiho

Breaking Boundaries: Exploring the Innovative Works of Composer Andy Akiho

Renowned composer and virtuoso percussionist Andy Akiho is making waves in the classical music world with his innovative and boundary-breaking works. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and a five-time GRAMMY nominee, Akiho is known for his intricate and unexpected compositions that challenge traditional notions of classical music.

Described as “an increasingly in-demand composer” by the New York Times, Akiho’s bold and theatrical works have earned him international acclaim. He is the only composer nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category for three consecutive years –2022, 2023, and 2024.

Akiho’s latest work, a concerto for cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, is premiering at five locations, including the Bozeman Symphony, Sun Valley Music Festival, Oregon Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. Other recent accomplishments include premieres with the Omaha Symphony and Imani Winds, as well as a sold-out run of Seven Pillars at Théâtre du Châtelet.

The composer’s other recent engagements include commissioned premieres by the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony, China Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Music@ Menlo, LA Dance Project, and The Industry. His recordings No One To Know One, The War Below, Seven Pillars, Oculus, and Sculptures feature brilliantly crafted compositions inspired by the steel pan.

Having received numerous awards and fellowships, including the Rome Prize, American Academy of Arts and Letters, Lili Boulanger Memorial Prize, Harvard University Fromm Commission, Barlow Endowment, New Music USA, and Chamber Music America, Akiho’s compositions have been featured by organizations such as Bang on a Can, the American Composers Forum, The Intimacy of Creativity in Hong Kong, and the Heidelberg Festival.

Akiho’s unique approach to composition stems from his background as a steelpan player and his unconventional path to becoming a composer. Drawing inspiration from his social interactions and collaborations playing steel pan by ear in Trinidad and New York City, Akiho infuses his music with a deeply personal and physical connection.

Originally from South Carolina, the artist became interested in becoming a percussionist when his older sister introduced him to a drum set at age 9. Akiho, who is of Japanese heritage, began writing music at age 28. He holds degrees from the University of South Carolina, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Yale School of Music. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in composition at Princeton University while splitting his time between Portland, Oregon, where he serves as the symphony’s composer-in-residence, and New York City.

With a reputation for pushing the boundaries of classical music and creating captivating works that captivate audiences worldwide, Akiho is a composer to watch in the contemporary music scene.