Meet Ziyan Yang | Composer & Playwright

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ziyan Yang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ziyan, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
Moving to the United States was the most challenging decision I ever made. During the pandemic, the world experienced chaos, prompting me to seek a fresh start and a new life. After relocating, I observed how the post-COVID world has evolved, even though I’m not familiar with how things used to be. It’s clear that many aspects have changed significantly.

Living in the U.S. has broadened my perspective, particularly as someone from the Eastern world. Our beliefs and choices shape our realities in this world, where people and circumstances are often objective. Only through peace and love can we create a better place for one another.

Life constantly presents challenges, and the best we can do is face them with resilience and an open heart. I hold steadfastly to my chosen path, knowing it is the direction I will follow forever.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist passionate about storytelling through music, I have been honing my skills across the spectrum from music to drama. As a composition student in music school, I often felt lost in the world of contemporary classical composition, which seemed more focused on subjectivity and scientific precision. I thrived on creating music based on my instincts and impulses, which didn’t always align with these mathematical demands.

Everything changed when I discovered opera and musical theater. These art forms bring narratives that infuse music with detail and imagery, while lyrics provide melodies with meaning. This is where I found my creative outlet and the means to express my artistic vision. Now, my goal is to tell more stories through music and continue sharing my passion with the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m more familiar with NYC, I’d love to show all my good friends my gem spots!

So, I’d recommend a typical day in the city: start from downtown Manhattan, 11 am, let’s do brunch at Golden Diner, they have the best pancake of the world, and we can have their fried chicken alongside it, when the world only knows chicken and waffles, NYC already started her chicken & pancake era.

Then we walk through Chinatown, god bless my community, even it’s always packed and chaotic and sometimes nasty, Chinatown has something could never be replaced – that is the chill vibe.

We could walk up a little to SoHo then, where all my favorite shops are located, city girls need all the closet shifts every season, and here you can find the best style of the world.

Then we shall take the subway to central park, where we could totally spend the whole afternoon, only if it’s not raining!
For dinner, my favorite restaurant – Blue Willow on 56th between 5th and 6th ave, they have the best Hunan Cuisine, and Chinese-Thai fusion cocktails. That’s where we close the night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to express my gratitude to American Opera Projects (AOP), my first professional company, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opera. AOP has provided me with a valuable opportunity to immerse myself in the contemporary American opera industry, where I aspire to establish a foundation for my career.

Working with my talented colleagues has taught me how the opera production process works, from the onstage performance to the behind-the-scenes logistics. It takes a collaborative team to bring an opera to life, and strong relationships among everyone involved are essential for a seamless production.

The most significant lesson I learned is that focusing on the art itself—telling stories through music—and trusting in each component of a project allows us to witness how all efforts come together to create something exceptional.

I look forward to continuing my journey in this vibrant world and hope to keep collaborating with AOP, which I consider my forever home.

Website: https://ziyanyangisme.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gloryoung/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziyan-yang-46a976244/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ziyan.yang.5496

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ziyanyang5633

Image Credits
they are all by Joy Zhang