Gloria Xia is a Manchester (UK)-based composer, originally from Shanghai and raised in Suzhou, China. She is currently pursuing her composition degree at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), studying with Larry Goves and Steven Daverson. Driven by a passion for cross-disciplinary and intercultural exploration, her work integrates influences from diverse art forms and installations, exploring various sound palates and gestures, both physically and musically.

 

Xia’s work has been showcased internationally, with performances in the USA, UK, and Austria. She has collaborated with ensembles such as Hypercube, London Contemporary Soloists, Trio Immersio, and various musicians from Juilliard and the Royal Northern College of Music.

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In January 2024, Xia’s work for flute and piano duet premiered at the Matin Harris Centre, commissioned by the University of Manchester Confucius Institute. Later that spring, she joined Juilliard Extension to further develop her composition techniques and approaches under the guidance of Evan Fein, working with Laura Kay, a soprano faculty member at NYU. In May, Xia was commissioned by the RNCM School of Composition for the public concert, Carrot Revolution. In the same year, Xia was the youngest participant selected for the 2024 Time of Music Summer Academy in Finland and joined the London Contemporary Soloists Composers Studio, where she received a chamber commission. Additionally, Xia was chosen to attend the Sherborne Summer School of Music 2024, receiving guidance from Malcolm Singer (Composition Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama).

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Xia has a keen interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and has worked closely with choreographers from the Northern Ballet School and animation artists from Manchester Metropolitan University. Beyond composition, she has engaged with various event projects, including the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the RNCM Children's Opera, the Whitworth Art Gallery, and RNCM Composer Concerts.