Born in 1953 in Guangzhou, Chen Yi studied the piano and violin as a child. In 1977, she went to the Central Conservatory in Beijing to study composition and became the first woman to earn a master's degree in composition in China in 1986. That same year, she went to the USA to study at Columbia University and obtained her DMA in 1993. She has served as Composer-in-Residence for the Women's Philharmonic, the vocal ensemble Chanticleer, & Aptos Creative Arts Center (93-96) supported by Meet The Composer, and as a member of the composition faculty at Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University (96-98).

Chen Yi was the recipient of the prestigious Charles Ives Living Award (01-04) from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The prize, established in 1998, is one of the largest prize available exclusively to composers. Chen Yi is presently Endowed Professor in Composition at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.


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