Introducing the David S. Bates Young Composer Project

This year Young Chamber Musicians (YCM) launches the David S. Bates Young Composer Project in memory of composer David S. Bates (1936-1974). The project provides a new, exciting, and educational opportunity to unite a YCM ensemble with a young composer to study a new composition and bring it to performance and recording.

In our inaugural year, YCM is proud to announce composer/pianist Avery Yang as our first young composer. Last fall, Ms. Yang completed her twelve minute work for piano trio that will be performed by YCM's Trio D’Neo (Munan Cheng, Hiro Yoshimura, and Jasper Lee) on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at the YCM Finale Concert, Kohl Mansion.

Piano Trio Op. 4, "Fairy Tale," is a two movement work loosely inspired by a children’s novel Ms. Yang read in the third grade.

We are delighted that Avery, a YCM alumna (Arcturus Trio, 2020), will return to YCM this season to work with our students in a new role as resident composer. Special thanks to coaches Jory Fankuchen and Jeffrey LaDeur for their assistance to the performers and young composer.

Avery Yang

Avery Yang is a YCM alumna and former pianist of the Arcturus Trio. She is now a 4th Year at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), where she is pursuing degrees in Chemical Biology and Music. Avery currently studies piano with Jeffrey Sykes and is the keyboardist of the UCB Symphony Orchestra. Avery participates as a soloist and chamber musician in the UCB music department, often appearing on noon recitals. In addition to her musical pursuits, Avery works as researcher in the Michelle Chang Lab, where she characterizes and engineers Fe(II) αKG-dependent hydroxylases and halogenases to expand their reactivity and substrate scope.

Cover Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash