Vila Zhang is a composer and pianist studying at The University of Manchester for a master’s in composition. She received a Bachelor of Music in summer 2022 at UoM and decided to pursue further study in composition. As a composer, she is always on the way to finding her own musical idiom and language. Her compositions range from instrumental & vocal music to electroacoustic works, including music for various chamber ensembles such as string quartet, wind quartet and piano trio, as well as several choral works. Vila enjoys working closely with performers. During her undergraduate, she started collaborating with Shanghai XinSong Middle School, and was commissioned to compose choral works for their SSA choir, gaining first prize in Shanghai chorus festival. Her most recent piece – a duet for cello & piano inspired by Sir Mark Elder’s retirement from The Hallé orchestra, received a successful premiere at Hallé St. Peter’s church in Manchester.