CHEN, Phyllis

Phyllis Chen is an American composer, pianist, sound artist, and specialist in toy piano and unconventional instruments. She studied at the Oberlin Conservatory, Northwestern University, and Indiana University, where she earned her doctorate. She is a founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble and currently teaches composition at SUNY New Paltz. sites.newpaltz.edu
Her compositions often combine toy pianos, found objects, electronics, and visual or theatrical elements. Works include The Memoirist, The Slumber Thief, Down the Rabbit-Hole, Columba and Lighting the Dark. She founded UnCaged Toy Piano in 2007 and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2022.