Yifei Xu

Yifei Xu is a Chinese composer and multi-instrumentalist currently based in Boston, serving as Composer-in-Residence for the Forte Music Festival. He holds dual graduate appointments at Harvard University (Computer Science) and Boston University (Composition), and previously earned degrees from Berklee College of Music and New York University.

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Xu’s work spans concert music, film and television scoring, and music technology. As co-founder of the Spectrasonic Alliance and a member of the Boston New Music Initiative, he is deeply engaged in the international new music scene. His compositional voice blends spectral techniques, algorithmic processes, and Asian instrumental aesthetics, supported by a strong foundation in classical harmony and orchestration.

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He has composed music for over ten popular dramas, web series, and theatrical films, with collaborators including Tan Dun, Lü Siqing, Li Xuejian, and Huang Xiaoming. His works have been featured in Honor of Kings, Glorious Journey, and Heavenly Principle, as well as commercials for Tencent AI Lab, Baidu, and Huawei. His music is also published and licensed by major companies such as Taihe Music Group and Shanghai Henian.

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A recipient of multiple international awards, Xu is a three-time winner of The American Prize in Composition, and has received top honors from ASCAP, IYMC, and the Schubert Academy in Austria. He was awarded the Paris-Europe Music Union Scholarship and has been invited to present lectures and masterclasses internationally.

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Xu studied composition with Grammy-winning opera composer Herschel Garfein and jazz improvisation with Michael Richmond, former bassist for Miles Davis. He currently studies under Joshua Fineberg—founder of Sound Icon and director of Harvard's Electronic Music Studio—who has mentored many of today’s leading composers.

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Beyond composition, Xu is involved in electronic instrument design, curriculum development for violin pedagogy, and interactive audio programming. His diverse portfolio reflects a commitment to bridging musical traditions and exploring the sonic possibilities of tomorrow.