Biography

Harrison Chiang is a composer and instrumentalist from Corona, California. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Composition at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California.

His music is rooted in memorable melody, rich harmonic language, and dense contrapuntal textures. Grounded in traditional forms, he is drawn to distinctive instrumental color and expanded ensembles, writing works that aim to feel both clear in structure and striking in sound. He has composed for wind band, orchestra, clarinet choir, and chamber ensembles, often pairing familiar traditions with unexpected timbral choices.

His wind symphony work Dreams of a Faded Wonder won the inaugural Thornton New Music for Wind Ensemble Competition. In August 2025, he was in residence with the Plattsburgh Clarinet Choir in New York for the premiere of his low clarinet choir work Solemn Bliss, as well as performing with the ensemble during the residency. Other works include his marches Resolute and Windswept, which engage with the tradition of the American march while blending elements of other stylistic influences and reconsidering the expressive scope of the genre.

As a performer, Chiang is active on bass trombone and clarinet, specializing in lower members of the family including alto, bass, and contra clarinets.

Alongside composing and performing, he designs and builds instruments, modifications, and accessories. Projects such as contrabass clarinet extensions and a custom F bass trombone grew from both fascination with unusual and historical instruments and practical performance challenges. His experience as both composer and performer shapes his approach to orchestration, ensemble balance, and the physical realities of playing.