Mission
As a composer, I strive to harness the power of music as an effective storytelling medium, weaving narratives that honor my cultural heritage and celebrate the diverse experiences of individuals and communities. I create immersive artistic experiences that amplify voices often overlooked, transforming personal and collective stories into resonant compositions. Through my music, I aim to foster understanding, connection, and empathy, inviting listeners to engage with the rich tapestry of human experience. By blending tradition with innovation, I seek to inspire a dialogue that transcends boundaries and highlights the beauty of our shared humanity.
Explore Works
by DAIX MUSIC
The Full Story
About DAIX (Daixuan Ai, 艾岱萱)
Born in Hunan, China, I started my music journey at the age of three when my parents put me in front of a piano for the first time. Somehow I knew then that I would devote my life to music.
At the age of 10, I became one of the selected few young pianists in the country to attend the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. I came to the US as an exchange student at the age of 14 and found that music offered a sense of home and belonging, helping me adapt to the new language, cultural, and social environment of suburban Cleveland, Ohio.
I decided to continue music study in college and discovered composition. I never considered the possibility of becoming a composer, simply because all the composers whose music I've played growing up looked nothing like me. Once I was given the tools to write, I realized that I am full of stories, ideas, and artistic expressions, which I have never discovered by merely performing other people's music. I felt free to explore my own identities, my Chinese cultural heritage, and my unique life experiences through composing.
My compositions have been performed by prestigious ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Civic Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, and Indiana University New Music Ensemble. My works often explore themes of identity, violence, healing, and social justice, and I use my music to raise awareness about racial injustice and promote racial equity.
Important Info (EPK)
Reach out to me at
daix@daixmusic.com for more info
Vision
I believe that music holds the power to reflect our experiences, heal our wounds, transform our perspectives, and connect us across divides. Interdisciplinary collaboration is where magic truly happens, blending diverse voices and visions to elevate each artist’s unique expression. In this synergy, we discover new dimensions of creativity, forging connections that resonate not just within ourselves, but also within the communities we serve.
Experience
As a composer, I have been invited to attend many classical music festivals as a composition fellow, including the Aspen Music Festival, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, National Orchestral Music Institute and Festival, American Composer’s Orchestra Earshot, International Trumpet Guild Conference, Red Note New Music Festival, Source Song Festival, and Fresh Inc Festival. I was also a long-term student of the European American Musical Alliance Institute, where I was trained in keyboard harmony, counterpoint, and score analysis in the lineage of legendary French music pedagogue Nadia Boulanger.
As a teacher, my journey started when she was 15. After first year of studying abroad, I went back to China and taught English and American Cultures at summer camps. There, I discovered the joy of sharing her experiences through teaching and helping others understand themselves and the world better. I am currently the undergraduate post-tonal aural theory instructor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. I have taught composition lessons for Jacobs Composition Academy and Laurel Springs Online School. I am also dedicated to educating and connecting with music lovers through social media, where I field inquiries from aspiring composers all around the world.
As an interdisciplinary artist and entrepreneur, I curated Hope Not Hate–an interdisciplinary concert in response to hate crimes against Asian Americans. This project was in collaboration with renowned author, activist, and founder of Vincent Chin Institute, Helen Zia, and organizations throughout Bloomington, Indiana. I recently received a community impact grant to create Ceremony For Our Land–a sonic meditation project in collaboration with the IU First Nation Center and Artists for Climate Awareness.
I am currently a doctoral candidate in music composition and theory at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where I study composition with Han Lash and Aaron Travers, and jazz piano with Juke Gillespie. I have previously earned a master’s degree in composition at IU and studied with David Dzubay, Don Freund, Katherine Balch, Emile Naoumoff and Anne Epperson. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory where I studied with Clint Needham (composition) and Sungeun Kim (piano).