Life & Work with Yijing Qiu of East Hollywood/Los Feliz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yijing Qiu.

Hi Yijing, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Qingdao, China, where I lived for eighteen years surrounded by the ocean, stories, and music. Even as a teenager, I felt a quiet pull beyond my hometown — a feeling that the world was much larger than anything I had known. I dreamed of exploring new cultures, hearing unfamiliar sounds, and discovering how people express themselves through art. That curiosity shaped everything that came after. It gave me an open mind, a willingness to talk to anyone, and an ease in forming connections with people wherever I went. I’ve spent years traveling alone through different countries, but I never felt lonely or afraid. Being in motion always made me feel at home. I think I’ve always been an explorer at heart — when I’m traveling, I feel as if the world is resting in my hands, inviting me to keep going.
My artistic voice began forming when I was young, studying the Erhu as my primary instrument. I fell in love with its voice-like tone — the way it carries emotion so directly, almost like a human cry or whisper. To me, the Erhu is not just a traditional Chinese instrument; it’s a versatile, expressive string instrument capable of blending into many genres. It opened my ears to folk and ethnic sounds across cultures, especially the raw, natural timbres that feel deeply connected to the earth and to human emotion. Those sounds shaped how I listen and how I compose. Later, when I discovered storytelling, theatre, and performance, something clicked: I realized that music and story are inseparable in the way they move people. Even as a kid, I was fascinated by good stories — they sparked my imagination and made me dream bigger. Film music eventually became the perfect space where all the things I loved could meet: emotion, narrative, culture, and sound. I want my music to feel universal, to touch people regardless of their background, and to serve as a guiding voice within a film’s storytelling. I believe film music plays a powerful role — it gives emotional meaning to what the audience sees, and sometimes it speaks what images alone cannot say.
My journey of exploration expanded when I moved to Spain to study Musicology in Barcelona. Immersing myself in a new culture and language taught me how to see music through a wider lens. Later, an exchange program in Canada introduced me to North America. During that time, I traveled along the West Coast and visited Los Angeles for the first time. The city’s diversity, creative energy, and film culture captivated me instantly. I didn’t know it then, but that trip planted the first seed of my dream to become a film composer.
Before formally studying film scoring, I spent about four years in Beijing working in musical theatre. I collaborated with local theaters, directed children’s productions, and taught English through culture-based learning. At the same time, I worked closely with filmmakers at the Beijing Film Academy, scoring short films and documentaries. One of those projects, Our Storms, was released on DVD this year, and several of my early works received recognition at international film festivals. These experiences helped me understand how narrative and emotional arcs can be built through music and how powerful the relationship between sound and image can be.
In 2024, I began the Master’s program in Film Music Composition at the Seattle Film Institute. I studied under Emmy Award–winning composer Hummie Mann and worked closely with composers Anton du Preez, Jarryd Elias, and Ryan Ike. That program became a turning point — not only for my musical growth but for my sense of collaboration. It was there that I met my two partners, Geet Chaudhari and Ron Leonardi. Together, we formed Viora Music, our international studio. Ron is from the U.S., Geet is from India, and I’m from China — three very different musical backgrounds and cultural identities, yet we complement each other in surprising and powerful ways. Working as a team constantly inspires me and deepens my belief that music grows stronger when different cultures meet.
After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles to continue building my career. I was recently selected as one of the composers for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where my work will premiere in February. I am currently scoring projects across China, Europe, and the United States. Although I’ve only lived in LA for a few weeks, the city’s energy feels familiar — vibrant, diverse, and full of artistic possibility. Every day feels new in the best way, and I’ve found myself smiling often, even when I’m walking alone through unfamiliar streets. That feeling of exploration hasn’t left me; if anything, LA has amplified it. This is a city where creative people naturally gather, where stories bloom, and where the world feels close at hand.
I hope to grow with this city, to write more stories, and to keep composing music that carries emotion across cultures — music that is honest, universal, and full of life. In many ways, my journey has never been just about the places I’ve lived; it has always been about discovering the world, discovering people, and discovering the sound of who I am becoming.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Traveling alone for so many years has been empowering, but it also comes with moments of loneliness. There are times when you wish someone were beside you, someone to help carry the weight of the journey. I’m grateful that, wherever I’ve lived, I’ve made friends who support me from afar — that kind of emotional support becomes essential when you’re constantly on the move. The biggest challenge, though, is facing the unknown. I’ve always loved a healthy level of uncertainty — it keeps life exciting and pushes me to explore — but uncertainty also comes with instability. Moving to Los Angeles was a huge step, and with it came questions I still ask myself: How will I continue growing as a composer? How can I build a sustainable life while staying true to my art? In the film world, the competition is intense. Some projects have tiny budgets, and even when they’re creatively fulfilling, it’s hard to balance passion with financial reality. Being a musician isn’t like holding a permanent job — every project is temporary, every opportunity must be earned again, and you constantly have to study, adapt, and stay updated with new styles and technologies. There are days when self-doubt creeps in, when I feel tired from trying again and again. But whenever I close my eyes at night and ask myself what I truly want, the answer is always the same: I want to write music. I want to tell stories through sound. That reminder keeps me moving forward, even when the path feels difficult. No matter how uncertain things are, my passion for film music always brings me back to myself.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I write film music, and most of my work centers on storytelling — finding the emotional core of a scene and shaping it through sound. What matters most to me is collaboration. I love working with directors, editors, and other musicians to build something that feels whole, where the music doesn’t just support the picture but becomes a living part of the story. I think that’s where I thrive: listening closely, understanding the intention behind a moment, and translating that emotion honestly into music.
A lot of my artistic identity comes from my background with the Erhu and my love for folk and natural timbres. I’m drawn to raw, expressive sounds that feel connected to real human experience, and I blend those influences with contemporary film scoring techniques. That combination — traditional roots, global influences, and a cinematic mindset — is often what sets my work apart. People who collaborate with me have told me that my music feels emotional, warm, and grounded, and that I bring a strong sense of intuition and open-mindedness into the creative process. I think being comfortable in different cultures, and being someone who adapts easily, helps me connect with teams and understand a story from many angles.
One of the projects I’m most proud of is Our Storms, a film I scored that won recognition in both domestic and international film festivals. It was later adapted into a stage play that has been touring across China — seeing the music live in a new medium was incredibly meaningful for me. I’m also currently composing for two film projects in the 10-10-10 program at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where my work will premiere this February. Those projects push me creatively and allow me to work closely with new filmmakers, which I really enjoy.
Overall, what makes me happiest — and what I hope people remember me for — is the emotional honesty in my music. I want to write scores that feel universal, that reach people regardless of where they come from, and that become part of the storytelling in a way that feels alive.

Any big plans?
For the future, I hope to keep working, learning, and expanding my musical world. I want to collaborate with great musicians and teammates, and continue writing music that feels honest, moving, and meaningful—music I can truly be proud of. I also want to explore more of the world, stay present, and take in every moment that can inspire me. Whether it’s something small or something big, I hope to keep noticing beauty in everyday life and let those moments shape my creativity.
Most of all, I want to express that beauty through music and use my work to bring a positive influence to the world—offering comfort, inspiration, and emotional connection to the people who listen, even if just a tiny bit. My goal is to keep growing, keep creating, and keep sharing something good with the world through my music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://play.reelcrafter.com/hGmuMC3ZTQ-Wx4axbc5vqg
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yijingqiumusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yijingqiumusic
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yijing-qiu-980845379/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vikki-qiu