Taiwanese-American composer Jiang Yizhen, currently residing in Los Angeles, has been awarded the “Best Emerging Composer” at the 2025 Apulia Soundtrack Awards (ASA) in Italy, becoming the first Asian and female composer to win the award since its inception. Her achievement not only brings honor to the Chinese community but also brings the cultural voice of Taiwan to the international stage.
Jiang Yizhen submitted three original works for the competition and stood out among 16 global finalists, receiving unanimous praise from the judges. The chairman of the judging panel, renowned French composer Cyril Morin, lauded Jiang’s works for their “fusion of Asian musical vocabulary and cinematic language, displaying high artistry and uniqueness.”
Traveling to Carovigno in the Apulia region of southern Italy, Jiang Yizhen attended the awards ceremony held from the 4th to the 6th of this month and performed the end credits song she composed for the feature film “Stories of the Return,” receiving enthusiastic applause. The film depicts a Taiwanese-American woman’s journey back to Taiwan to explore her roots, with the score blending traditional Taiwanese sounds with Western contemporary orchestral music, delicately presenting themes of identity and cultural memory.
In an interview with a journalist from Dajiyuan, Jiang Yizhen expressed, “Music needs no translation and can transcend language and culture. I hope to let the world hear the sound of Taiwan through musical notes.” This sentiment was also echoed in her acceptance speech at the ceremony.
“Stories of the Return” has also been selected for the 2025 Asian American International Film Festival and won the “Best Artistic Feature Film” award at the Paris Film Festival, showcasing the influence of Taiwanese stories and culture in the international film industry.
A graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in the United States, Jiang Yizhen is currently employed at the Los Angeles-based music and media company Craigman Digital. She collaborates with institutions like Warner Music Group on various film and television projects. Her animated short film “The Frog Who Can’t Rabbit,” in which she starred and composed the music, received awards at the 2024 Los Angeles Independent Women’s Film Festival and was selected for the 2023 Los Angeles International Short Film Festival.
Furthermore, Jiang Yizhen’s orchestral piece “Origin of Life” has been successfully selected for the 2025 European Recording Orchestras audition event, placing her in the top 25% of the preferred list for the Asian region, showcasing her profound understanding of musical language and innovative abilities.
The ASA, founded in 2021, is a significant emerging film and music festival in Europe dedicated to promoting global exchanges and development in the film and music industry. This year marks its 4th edition. The renowned British composer Anne Dudley and Italian composer Carlo Crivelli were honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at this year’s ASA.
Jiang Yizhen’s accomplishments not only demonstrate the depth of talent within the Chinese community in the art field but also allow the beauty of Taiwanese culture to reach the world through melodies, inspiring more young creators to bravely pursue their dreams and carry on cultural heritage.