Biography.
Xiao Wen (b. 2004) is a Singaporean composer and musician. She is interested in conveying her everyday curiosities through explorations of instrumental sound and electroacoustic mediums. Xiao Wen treats sound as material, taking inspiration from the soundscape around her, and transforms them into contrasting characters in her music. From solo repertoire, large ensemble works, to electronic music, she is keen on exploring different formats to express her thoughts most vividly.
Xiao Wen’s music has been performed locally and internationally in Austria, Germany, Helsinki and Thailand. She has worked with performers like Martin Jaggi, Carolin Ralser, Duo Tarenna, b-l duo, Trio Immersio, Tacet(i) Ensemble and Karl Jõgi. She participated in festivals including the Sounds of Now Vienna Contemporary Music Festival 2024, the International Composition Institute of Thailand 2024, and the Darmstadt Summer Course 2025. Xiao Wen also received the Honourable Mention in Senior Category of Sempre Musick 2023 Composition Competition for 寻 (search) (2021) for piano trio.
Xiao Wen also believes in the power of collaboration in creating inclusive musical experiences for her audience. She has curated multiple concerts and installations intersecting music and other disciplines. Her installation, y(our) happiness (2025), featuring audience submissions and interactive music, aimed to inspire reflection in the audience about small but certain happiness, and stimulate optimism in students’ lives. Xiao Wen has also participated in many collaborative musical projects, such as collaborative composition A Creation for YST A Gala for Creation 2023 that was presented at Performers(') Present International Artistic Research Symposium 2023.
As a performer, Xiao Wen plays the piano and electone. She clinched the Grand Prix Award in the Junior Section 1 category (2014), Junior Category (2015), Junior 3 Category (2017, 2018, 2019). She has also represented Singapore at the Asia Pacific YAMAHA Electone Festival in 2015 (Taipei) and 2018 (Indonesia). In 2018, Xiao Wen’s first pop song《雨树 》 received first prize in the Songwriting (Creative) Category at the 4th Xin Kong Xia National Schools Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition. Subsequently, she also participated in the 2019 and 2021 editions of SG:SW I Write the Songs Nationwide Mandarin-Pop Song Writing Festival, with《自己》performed at the Top 48 Showcase in 2019, and《平行轨道》entering Top 10 finals in 2021.
Xiao Wen is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Composition at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, as well as a Second Major in Music, Collaboration and Production on a full scholarship. She completed an exchange semester at Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki. Her composition mentors include Associate Professor Peter Edwards, Martin Jaggi, Dr Yuting Tan, Dr Adeline Wong and Veli-Matti Puumala. She has also had masterclasses with Chaya Czernowin, Hans Thomalla, Detlev Müller-Siemens, Dieter Mack, Damien Ricketson, Pierre Jodlowski and more.