FÉ YUEN
mathematician-composer
Fé Yuen works at the intersection of mathematical structures and musical expression, developing compositional methods that reveal the mathematical architecture within acoustic phenomena. Her process often begins with mathematical discovery—extracting tone rows from the physics of saxophone multiphonics, constructing pitch sequences, or building recursive musical architectures that mirror mathematical questioning processes. Each composition becomes an investigation: How do constraint systems generate freedom? Can mathematical beauty be made audible?
In 2025, she was selected as one of 30 young composers worldwide for the Juilliard Summer Composition program, where she studied with faculty including David Serkin Ludwig, Daniel Felsenfeld, Trevor Weston, and Viet Cuong, while attending seminars by distinguished composers including John Corigliano, Joan Tower, Valerie Coleman, and Eric Whitacre. Her work Eroteme I, exploring self-referential pitch structures, premiered with the Juilliard Summer Ensemble. Her compositions have been reviewed by composers including Ryuichi Sakamoto and performed internationally from Gdańsk to Hong Kong.
Currently studying at Choate Rosemary Hall, Fé continues developing her passion in mathematics and music composition. Her works have received recognition including the 16th Musica Sacra Nova International Choral Competition in Europe (2020) and the 2nd Corinfesta International Competition in Italy (2018).
SELECTED WORKS
2025
Eroteme I
for Clarinet, Violin, Violoncello, and Piano
World Premiere: Juilliard Summer Ensemble
"Inspired by Alban Berg's use of intervals that function like musical question marks, I constructed an all-interval twelve-tone row as both instigator and organizing principle. The piece evolved through analyzing Berg's chords stacking an augmented fourth on a perfect fourth—intervals serving as pivots in his compositions. The title, Eroteme I, reflects the piece's self-referential nature—an 'acoustic hall of mirrors' that aligns with my recursive questioning process."
2023
Lingering Thoughts (裊裊餘音)
for Xiao, Alto Saxophone, Viola, Cello, Percussion, and Piano
75th HKSMF: First Prize, Gold Award
"Using the qin-xiao duo in traditional Chinese music as my archetype, I explored after-tones and intercommunications through mathematical derivation. Motif pitches are based on a decachord from the xiao-scale and a hexachord subset of alto saxophone multiphonics. In the climax, the hexachord transforms into two stacked major sevenths, forming a rhythmic figure with which melodies and tremolos interweave."
2020/23/25
Ave Maris Stella
for Mixed Chorus and Organ (2020)
for Mixed Chorus and String Quartet (2023/25)
16th Musica Sacra Nova: First Prize
World Premiere by Polski Chór Kameralny (Polish Chamber Choir), Gdańsk, Poland
Hong Kong Premiere by: Diocesan Boys' and Girls Schools, Heep Yunn and Wah Yan College Kowloon Joint Choir, Hong Kong SAR, China