ABOUT

Sun Keting is a London-based China-born composer, researcher, creative director and artist. Her composition works focus on performing arts and instrumental sound exploration combining Eastern cultural, spiritual and philosophical elements. They have been described as “the future way to go” (the Independent) and “very attractive for its harmonic imagination, mastery of instrumentation” (the Bachtrack).

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Keting's music has been performed in the U.K., U.S., Europe and Asia. She has composed music for the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Singers, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, Ligeti Quartet, Riot Ensemble, Psappha Ensemble, Tangram, Nash Ensemble, The Silk Road Ensemble, the Chroma Ensemble, the IGF, Tangram, The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and The National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan. Notably, she worked as a composer for Birmingham Royal Ballet's "Black Sabbath”.

 

Keting's music has graced prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including the Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, King’s Place London, Aldeburgh Festival, LSO St. Luke’s, Helsinki Concert Hall, tête-à-tête Festival, and National Concert Hall Dublin. As a RPS Composer for 2023-2024 and a co-director at Tangram, she champions bold and innovative artistic endeavors. Among her upcoming events are a commissioned piece for Cheltenham Festival and Britten Pears Chamber Futures.

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Past commissions highlight Keting's diverse range, from a chamber work for Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall to a three new choral piece for the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. She contributed to the celebration of 70 years of 4'33'' at LSO St. Luke's with Our Silence is Your Silence celebrating 70 years of 4'33''; presented a chamber opera, "New Genus," at Tête-à-Tête Festival 2022. Her involvement in in the LPO Young Composers 20/21, a new work for sitar and choir for BBC Radio 3 for BBC Singers, Psappha 20/21 'Composing for...scheme', The IGF Guitar Summit and Riot Ensemble underscores her versatility. Previously, The Scent of Sound concert highlighted new music inspired by folk elements, cross-cultural influences, and diverse art forms. In 2020-2021, engagement with both the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) Young Composer's schemes provided valuable experiences. The participation in LSO's Soundhub Composer Scheme also played a significant role. Collaborating with a Rome-based Chinese choreographer/artist Huang Xiao resulted in premieres at LSO St. Lukes, including Ensō(2019) and Listen(2020), notable commissions included One Undivided(2019) with co-commissioning by CAN, LSO, and the Silk String quartet, and Erasure(2019) co-commissioned by Tangram and Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble. Additionally, participation in the Creative Dialogue 2019 in Finland, guided by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and cellist Anssi Karttunen, provided valuable insights.

 

Having earned her B.A. from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and an MMus from the Royal Academy of Music, Keting is currently pursuing a doctorate at the Royal Academy under the mentorship of Helen Grime. Her supervisors include Phil Cashian and David Gorton, alongside RAM's Composers in Residence Oliver Knussen, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, and Hans Abrahamsen.