Rita Ueda is a Canadian composer based in Vancouver, the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Applauded as a composer whose ‘poetic is often very delicate and introspective…’ (Guido Barbieri, Warner Classics), her works inspire contemplation and dialogue between cultures in flux. Notable works include as the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow (2021), let us not be the reason why someone out there is praying for peace (2020), forty years of snowfall will not heal an ancient forest (2010), and Hummingbird in Winter (2021). Her most recent work, Birds Calling… From the Canada in You (2022) for sho (Japanese mouth organ, sheng (Chinese mouth organ) / suona (Chinese shawm), and orchestra has been praised as “… fresh, thoroughly Canadian, and breathtakingly original.” (James Imam, Musical America Worldwide).
Winner of the 2022 Jules Léger Prize in New Chamber Music, 2022 Azrieli Prize in Canadian Music and the 2014 Penderecki International Composers’ Competition, Ms Ueda has premiered orchestral works with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Budapest MAV Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s (New York), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra (London). Her works have been presented by the Carinthian Music Festival (Austria), Tongyeong International Music Festival (South Korea), Prague Contempuls Festival, Uitmarkt Festival (Netherlands), Kyushu Okinawa Composers’ Association (Japan), and the Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition (Hungary).
For over 10 years, Ms Ueda has been actively creating intercultural works that feature various underrepresented communities in the Canadian music scene. Recent collaborations include as the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow (2021) for intercultural ensemble and Fly Away Phoenix, Into the Sky (2021) for sanxian (Chinese 3-string banjo) and intercultural strings, both with the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra. Il Viaggio di Dante (2021) her concerto for guzheng (Chinese zither, Geling Jiang) and chamber orchestra was premiered by Ensemble Bios at Teatro Niccolini in Florence, Italy as a part of the city-wide celebration of the 700th anniversary of Dante Alghieri’s death.
For over 10 years, Ms Ueda has been actively creating intercultural works that feature various underrepresented communities in the Canadian music scene. Recent collaborations include as the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow (2021) for intercultural ensemble and Fly Away Phoenix, Into the Sky (2021) for sanxian (Chinese 3-string banjo) and intercultural strings, both with the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra. Il Viaggio di Dante (2021) her concerto for guzheng (Chinese zither, Geling Jiang) and chamber orchestra was premiered by Ensemble Bios at Teatro Niccolini in Florence, Italy as a part of the city-wide celebration of the 700th anniversary of Dante Alghieri’s death.
As a choral/vocal composer, Ms Ueda has composed over 20 works that span from children’s repertoire to a 90-voice SATB choir. Her intercultural chamber opera, One Thousand White Paper Cranes for Japan (2012) has been performed in 6 countries over Europe, North America, and Asia. She has composed new works for the SYC Ensemble Singers (Singapore), Esoterics (Seattle), Amadeus Choir of Toronto, and the Boston Choral Ensemble. Her latest chamber opera, I Have My Mother’s Eyes: a Holocaust Memoir Across Generations featuring musicians from Japan and Canada was one of the most sought after ticket at the Vancouver Chutzpah! Festival in 2023.
Ms Ueda holds degrees from Simon Fraser University, California Institute for the Arts, and University of Durham (UK). Principal teachers include Rudolf Komorous, Rodney Sharman, David Rosenboom, Wadada Leo Smith, Morton Subotnick, Richard Rijnvos, and James Weeks. Other short-term teachers include Earle Brown, James Tenney, and Lou Harrison.
Her latest recordings are I Solisti Della Scalla – Octets (Warner Classics), even if the sky fades into the dark (Stingray Classica), and Il Viaggio di Dante (Stingray Classica). Her selected orchestral works are published by Vienna Doblinger.
Awards and Prizes
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2022 Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music
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2022 Azrieli Commission Prize for Canadian Music
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Co-winner, Association of Canadian Women Composers Roberta Stephen Award (2016)
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Winner, 2014 Penderecki International Composers' Competition (Radom, Poland)
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Winner, 2013 Boston Choral Ensemble International Commissioning Competition
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Winner, 2011 The Esoterics Polyphonos International Composition Competition (Seattle)
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2nd Prize, 2014 Florence International “Ennio Morricone” Choral Composition Competition
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2nd Prize, 2013 Val Tidone 'Egidio Carella' International Composition Competition (Italy)
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2nd Prize, 2011 Mahler International Composition Competition (Vienna)
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Finalist, 2014 International Composition Competition Citta di Udine (Italy)
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Finalist, 2013 Florence International String Quartet Composition Competition
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International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM): World Music Days 2016 (string orchestra), Official Canadian Selection in 2012 (string orchestra) and 2015 (orchestra)