List of Works
Works listed in order of:
1. Opera/Music Theatre:
Shortlisted for FEDORA Digital Prize 2023
Commissioned by Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier for performances in February 2024
Directed by Franciska Éry, Words by Ar Guens Jean Mary, Conducted by Ka Hou Fan
2019/2023 - Untold, music theatre piece for dancer, counter-tenor, and four players (ca 70')
Winner of FEDORA Opera Prize 2023
Produced and commissioned by Muziektheater Transparant for premiere by Jasmine Chiu, Keith Pun, Mantawoman, Joanne Chiang, Daniel Shao, and Alex Ho at Concertgebouw Brugge in April 2023, supported by FEDORA Platform, PRS Foundation, Britten-Pears Arts, and RPS Drummond Fund
Directed by Julia Cheng
2021/2022 - Étape par étape, a chamber opera in the most literal sense for our dreams, two singers, and four players (30')
Commissioned by Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier for performances in September 2022
Directed by Franciska Éry, Words by Ar Guens Jean Mary, Conducted by Sora Elisabeth Lee
2020 - AMAZON, a digital piece for stop motion animation, text, and home sounds (7')
Winner of UK Critics Circle Award 2021
Created with theatre-maker Elayce Ismail, co-commissioned by Music Theatre Wales and London Sinfonietta in partnership with HOME Manchester
2019 - Untold, first development phase of music theatre piece (ca 45')
Winner of George Butterworth Award 2020
Produced by Tangram for performance in November 2019 by Julia Cheng, Keith Pun, and Tangram at Hackney Round Chapel, supported by Sound and Music, PRS Foundation, Arts Council England, Britten-Pears Arts, and Help Musicians UK
Co-directed by Julia Cheng and Alex Ho
2019 - Dreaming Clouds for violin and dance (ca 15')
Performed by Alex Ho and Julia Cheng at Rough for Opera, The Cockpit Theatre, London in May 2019
2. Orchestra/Large Ensemble:
2022 - Carved in Gorton Stone for sinfonietta (9')
Commissioned by Royal Philharmonic Society for performance by Manchester Camerata
2022 - Unveiling for orchestra (7')
Commissioned by Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier for performance conducted by Chloé Dufresne in September 2022
2 +picc, 2, 2+bass cl, 2+contra, 4, 2, 3, 1, timp, 2 perc (b.drum, tam-tam, 5 temple blocks, 5 wood blocks, sus cym, snare, 3 triangle), strings
2022 - Splinter for double bass and orchestra (10')
Commissioned by London Philharmonic Orchestra for performance conducted by Brett Dean with Sebastian Pennar at Southbank Centre in July 2022
2 +picc, 2, 2, 2+contra, 2, 2, 2, 1, perc (bass drum, 3 tom toms, 5 temple blocks, sus cymbal, crotales), hrp, solo DB, strings
2020 - Breathe and Draw for sinfonietta, two conductors and audience participation (ca 25’)
Shortlisted for Scottish New Music Awards 2021
Commissioned by Nevis Ensemble for performances in 2020/21
2018 - Lucky Collisions for yangqin and orchestra (ca 8’)
Commissioned by the Cambridge University Chinese Orchestra and performed by Reylon Yount and the Cambridge University Chinese Orchestra at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge in March 2018
2017 - Reinventions for string orchestra (6’-10’ – variable by performance)
Commissioned and performed by the Fantasia Orchestra at St. Matthews Patronal Festival, London in September 2017
2017 - No Them, Only Us for chamber orchestra (ca 18’)
Original version commissioned and performed by the Ripieno Players at the Wesley Memorial Church, Oxford, in February 2017
Revised August 2017
2016 - Vanishing Point for erhu and symphony orchestra (ca 11’)
Commissioned by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and performed by Sun Yaoqi (erhu) and the Shanghai Philharmonic conducted by Liang Zhang at Shanghai Symphony Concert Hall in November 2016
3. Cross-Media/Audience Participation:
2020 - Breathe and Draw for sinfonietta, two conductors and audience participation (ca 25’)
Shortlisted for Scottish New Music Awards 2021
Commissioned by Nevis Ensemble for performances in 2020/21
2020 - Say Hi for three or four players and audience participation, open score (ca 8')
Written for Tangram for performance at LSO St. Luke's in January 2020
2019 - Upon brick for solo soprano, a site-specific piece for the Barbican Lakeside (ca 5’)
Commissioned by Musicity for recording by Héloïse Werner at LSO St. Luke's and release at Sound Unbound Festival, Barbican Centre, London in May 2019
2018 - Can I play, too? for clarinet, violoncello, piano, and two table-tennis players (ca 10')
Commissioned by Chinese Arts Now for performance at SoundState Festival, Southbank Centre, London in January 2019
2018 - Mining Perceptions for solo flute, electronics, and glass sculpture
A multi-disciplinary installation combining music, video and sculpture created with Sally Fawkes exhibited at Chapel Arts Exhibition, Cheltenham in June 2018
2017 - Carnival with students from the Slade School of Fine Art
A performance art piece created for the opening of the SanMei Gallery, London in November 2017
4. Chamber:
2023 - Three Proverbs for eight players: clarinet, bassoon, horn, two violins, viola, violoncello, and double bass (6')
Commissioned by Glyndebourne Opera for performance by Glyndebourne Sinfonia in Autumn 2023
2023 - For the Headless Horse for natural trumpet, natural horn, and sackbut (1')
Fanfare commissioned by Glyndebourne Opera for performance by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE)
2021 - Gambit for six players: flute, oboe, bass clarinet, violin, viola, and violoncello (ca 7')
Written for Riot Ensemble for performance at Crossroads Festival, Salzburg in November 2021
2018/2021 - For Silk and Paper for traditional Chinese string quartet (ca 12')
Commissioned by the Silk String Quartet
2021 - Our Common Wealth for string quartet (ca 6')
Commissioned by Villiers Quartet for performance at Oxford University in June 2021
2020 - In Significance for seven players: two percussionists, oboe, horn, piano, violin, and violoncello (ca 12')
Written for London Symphony Orchestra's 'Soundhub' scheme for performance by members of the LSO at LSO St. Luke's in February 2020
2020 - Say Hi for three or four players and audience participation, open score (ca 8')
Written for Tangram for performance at LSO St. Luke's in January 2020
2019 - Spiralling scrolls for clarinet, viola and yangqin (ca 15')
Written for London Symphony Orchestra's 'Soundhub' scheme for performance by members of the LSO and Reylon Yount at LSO St. Luke's in July 2019
2019 - Tell them we were here for flute, yangqin and percussion (ca 12')
Written for Chinese Arts Now's artist development bursary for performance by Tangram at Chinese Arts Now Festival, LSO St. Luke's, London in January 2019
2018 - Back here, together, again for guitar and yangqin (ca 3')
Commissioned by Syracuse University for private performance by Michael Poll (guitar) and Reylon Yount (yangqin) at Syracuse University's Remembrance Week in November 2018
Recorded by Michael Poll and Reylon Yount at Abbey Road Studios, November 2018
2017 - Urban Utterances for flute and electric guitar (ca 6’)
Performed by Unassisted Fold at HighScore Festival, Pavia, Italy in August 2017
2017 - Crash, Bang, Wallop for three percussionists (ca 1’)
Performed by Sixtrum at the Domaine Forget Academy, Quebec, Canada in June 2017
2017 - It’s a long way to go, Habibi for piano trio and percussion (ca 10’)
Performed by Ensemble Paramirabo at the Domaine Forget Academy, Quebec, Canada in June 2017
2017 - Paths-Lines-Dot for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello and piano (ca 6’)
Workshopped by the Birmingham Contemporary Music Ensemble at Cambridge University in April 2017
2016 - Echoes for string quartet (ca 9’)
Recorded by musicians of Oxford University in Merton Chapel in April 2016
Workshopped by the Bozzini Quartet at the Sound Festival, Aberdeen in November 2016
Workshopped by the Ligeti Quartet at Cambridge University in November 2016
2016 - Kinetics for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, violoncello and piano (ca 6’)
Recorded by musicians of Oxford University in University College, Oxford in April 2016
2015 - Danza de la Muerte for string quartet (ca 7’)
Workshopped by the Villers Quartet in the Holywell Music Room in November 2015
2015 - Impromptu for violoncello and piano (ca 6’)
Performed by Rebecca McNaught and Alex Ho at New College Chapel, Oxford in February 2015
5. Vocal:
2023 - Four miniatures for our littler selves for mezzo-soprano and piano (ca 6')
Commissioned by Het Concertgebouw for performance by Fleur Barron and Julius Drake at Het Concertgebouw in April 2023
Text by Alex Ho
2022 - A Place called Paradise for mezzo-soprano and piano (ca 20')
Commissioned by Oxford Lieder Festival for performance by Fleur Barron and Kunal Lahiry at Holywell Music Room in October 2022
Text by Theopilus Kwek
2020/22 - Letters from Home for baritone and piano (ca 17')
Commissioned by the Royal Opera House for performance by Jia Huang and Satoshi Kubo at ROH Crush Room in February 2022
Text by Theopilus Kwek
2021 - two connected souls for mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano (ca 5')
Commissioned by Oxford Lieder Festival for performance by Helen Charlston, Michael Craddock, and Alexander Soares in October 2021
Text by Kwan-Ann Tan
2020 - Above the White Island for tenor and piano (ca 7')
Commissioned by National Opera Studio for recording by Shengzhi Ren and Derek Clarke for 12:42 Series
Text by Theophilus Kwek
2019 - Upon brick for solo soprano, a site-specific piece for the Barbican Lakeside (ca 5’)
Commissioned by Musicity for recording by Héloïse Werner at LSO St. Luke's and release at Sound Unbound Festival, Barbican Centre, London in May 2019
Text by Alex Ho
2018 - ...chinese whispers... for vocal trio
Performed by Juice Ensemble at Cheltenham Music Festival at Chapel Arts, Cheltenham in July 2018
Text by Alex Ho
2017 - Flood for mezzo-soprano and piano (ca 5’)
Commissioned by Oxford Lieder Festival and performed by Ciara Hendrick and Sholto Kynoch as part of the Oxford Lieder Festival in March 2017
Text by Theopilus Kwek
2016 - Compost for baritone and string quartet (ca 7’)
Performed by Roderick Williams and the Coull Quartet at St. John the Evangelist Church, Oxford in June 2016
Revised version performed by members of Oxford University at the Recital Hall at Birmingham Conservatoire in November 2016
2015 - A Blake Song Cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano (ca 18’)
Performed by Katherine Jeffries-Harris and Alex Ho in New College Chapel, Oxford in February 2016
2014 - A Poison Tree for baritone and piano (ca 5’)
Recorded by Thomas Lowen and Alex Ho in the Denis Arnold Hall, Oxford in May 2014
6. Solo Instrument:
2021 - furling for solo sheng (ca 6')
Written for Wu Wei, supported by Asian Cultural Council New York, for recording as part of SEED 2021 in August 2021
2021 - Knuckleduster for solo piano (ca 5')
Commissioned by Aidan Chan for performance at Royal College of Music in June 2021
2020 - little twinkle for solo double bass (ca 1’)
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 as part of 'Postcards from Composers' Series for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in November 2021
2020 - "Play Me" for solo piano (ca 2’)
Written for 'Twenty', a free series of twenty short piano pieces for all abilities
2020 - Shout! for solo violoncello (ca 5’)
Written for Psappha Ensemble's Composing for Cello scheme for recording by Jennifer Langridge in May 2020
2019 - Plastic Ceremony for one drum and sixteen plastic bags (ca 12’)
Commissioned by Bascule Chamber Series for performance at Totally Thames Festival at Tower Bridge in September 2019
2018 - Rituals and Resonances for solo yangqin (ca 12’)
Recorded by Reylon Yount at Abbey Road Studios, London in February 2018
Performed at Merton Passiontide Festival, Oxford in March 2018
2017 - As if we had not been for solo flute and pre-recorded tape (ca 6’)
Written for Psappha Ensemble's Composing for Flute scheme for recording by Conrad Marshall in May 2017
2017 - For a Quiet Night and a Perfect End for solo violin work (ca 9’)
Performed by William Newell at Passiontide Festival, Oxford in April 2017
Recorded by William Newell at Abbey Road Studios, London in December 2017
7. Choral:
2021 - Scratch Theatre for choir (ca 3')
Written for VOCES8 in partnership with Choir and Organ Magazine for release in March 2022
Text by Alex Ho
2021 - tah dah! for choir (ca 2')
Written for recording by National Youth Choirs of Great Britain Fellowship for release by NMC Recordings in January 2022
Text by Alex Ho
Published by Stainer & Bell
Written for recording by National Youth Choirs of Great Britain for release by NMC Recordings in January 2022
Text by Alex Ho
2020 - Six Geese a-laying a-lay a-lay a-lay! for choir (ca 1')
Digital release by Corvus Consort, commissioned by Corvus Consort
Text by Alex Ho
2016 - Te Lucis Ante Terminum for choir (AATTBB - ca 6’)
Performed by the clerks of Christ Church Cathedral Choir conducted by the composer in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford in March 2016
2015 - In Time of ‘The Breaking of Nations’ for choir (SSAATTBB and six sopranos - ca 6’)
Performed by Tim Garrard and the choir of Westminster School in Westminster Abbey, London in April 2017
Text by Thomas Hardy
2014 - They that go down to the sea in ships for choir (SSAATTBB - ca 3’)
Performed by Benjamin Nicholas and the Merton College Choir in Merton College Chapel, Oxford in May 2015
8. Electroacoustic:
2017 - As if we had not been for solo flute and electronics (ca 5’)
Recorded by the Psappha Ensemble in Manchester, April 2017
2015 - The Parable of the Old Man and the Young for electronics, bell, string quartet and soprano (ca 3’)