East Zodiac Music Foundation

The East Zodiac Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting music created by Asian composers. It aims to enhance the representation of musicians of Asian descent in the United States, addressing the underrepresentation of Asian immigrant composers in Western music circles.

Mission

The foundation's mission focuses on fostering a community that supports Asian composers by commissioning new works and providing a platform for their music to be performed. This goal is achieved through a program tied to the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, where a different Asian composer is commissioned each year.

History

East Zodiac was founded in 2022 by clarinetist Samuel Hsieh and his co-founders Sean Penzo and Vanna Tsiknias. The idea emerged when Hsieh was searching for a graduate audition piece with an Asian influence and realized the scarcity of such music. This led to the concept of commissioning pieces based on the Chinese Zodiac Calendar.

Activities

The organization engages in several activities to support its mission:

• Commissioning Projects: East Zodiac commissions a new work from an Asian composer annually, aligned with the Chinese Zodiac Calendar.
• Premiere Concerts: The foundation hosts concerts to premiere the commissioned works, providing a platform for these compositions to reach a wider audience.
• Consortium Projects: East Zodiac collaborates with artists and musicians through consortium projects, offering exclusive benefits and recognition to supporters of the organization.

Leadership and Partnerships

Samuel Hsieh serves as a principal officer of the foundation. In 2024, East Zodiac was part of the University of Michigan's Performing Arts EXCELerator, receiving mentorship and financial guidance on running an arts organization, which led to a presentation at Yale University's Innovation Summit.

Impact

The organization contributes to increasing the visibility and recognition of Asian composers in the U.S., fostering diversity and inclusivity in the music world. Through its initiatives, East Zodiac Music Foundation supports the musical education and appreciation of diverse cultural influences, playing a significant role in enriching musical landscapes in North America and beyond.