Composer-in-Residence
GAIA Quartet is committed to working and collaborating with living composers. We believe it’s not only important to perform new music, but also to actively engage with living composers by commissioning and developing new works together. In addition to programming underrepresented composers on every concert, the quartet maintains an active composer-in-residence position. This residency allows GAIA to collaborate directly with the composer throughout the creative process by workshopping pieces, experimenting with sound and ideas, as well as giving world premieres. Beyond performance, the residency fosters ongoing dialogue between composer, performers, and audience, making each work feel alive, relevant, and rooted in the present moment.
GAIA Quartet is excited to announce Hsiu-Ping Patrick Wu as our Composer-in-Residence. Patrick has collaborated with us on many projects, the most recent being our debut album In Time, which features two of his original works, In Time and String Quartet No. 3. He has also supported us in organizing our upcoming album tour taking place this coming fall. From the very beginning, Patrick has been a strong supporter of GAIA, and we are thrilled to continue working closely and collaboratively with him. Read more about Patrick below!
Hsiu-Ping Patrick Wu
Composer-in-Residence,
Hsiu-Ping Patrick Wu is an award-winning Taiwanese-Canadian composer, violinist, and multimedia artist based in Toronto. Known for blending Taiwanese, minimalistic, and neo-romantic styles, he draws from his multicultural heritage to create evocative compositions that range from lyrical to avant-garde. Wu has collaborated with prestigious ensembles like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and studied under prominent composers and violinists. A recipient of multiple scholarships, he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, crafting music that often integrates cultural, dramatic, and improvisational elements.
Patrick’s relationship with GAIA Quartet goes beyond his role as composer-in-residence. We have performed numerous works of his, and two of his pieces will be featured on our debut album In Time. Patrick also collaborated with us on shaping the overall concept of the album and supported us in organizing our Canadian tour. His creative vision and ongoing partnership with GAIA reflect our commitment to working closely with living and underrepresented composers, making collaboration central to everything we do.
To work with or read more about Patrick, visit his website here!
