As a composer of innovative creation, Apple's work Mulan Fantasie(2014) for symphonic band was selected final three compositions for the final stage of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) 2017 1st International Composition Contest. The final competition was held at TivoliVredenburg Concert Hall in Utrecht on July 19th during the WASBE International Conference (July 18th – 22nd, 2017), conducted by Bjorn Bus and performed by the Orchestra of the Dutch Customs. Mulan Fantasie premiered at the concert "East Meets West" in Zhongzheng Auditorium of Zhongshan Hall in Taipei Taiwan in August 2014. The piece was highly praised and was performed at several concerts by many wind ensembles, including the performance by the Harmonie Municipale de Sion, conducted by Stéphane Delley in Switzerland in 2019 and 2021; the performance by the Macau Youth Symphonic Bandin at the Opening Gala Concert of Certamen Internacional de Bandes de Música “Ciutat de València” 2019 (The 2019 International Music Band Contest City of Valencia) in Spain and “Banda Filarmónica de Macau” in Porto, Portugal in July 2019; the concert “Taiwanilainen Ilta” performed by Laivaston soittokunta(Finland Navy Band) in Turku, Finland in September 2018; The concert "The Circle of the Sound" National Taiwan University Alumni Wind Band 14th anniversary concert, performed by Taiwan University Alumni Wind Band in Xinzhuang Culture and Arts Center in Taiwan in July 2018.

​

​

​

Distinguished by the distinctive music writing that fuses Eastern and Western influences, in season 2016-17, Apple Chang was invited by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office(TECO) in New York, to write Thank You MTA, Thank You from Taiwan, a piece dedicated to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) as the opening song at the concert “Embarking on the journey - Fulfilling the Dream” that Taiwanese government showed appreciation to MTA and Apple also performed as the conductor for this opening piece. In the same season, she was commissioned by the New Asia Chamber Music Society (NACMS); her work titled Spring for Erhu and string ensemble was world premiered at the Merkin Concert Hall of Kaufman Music Center in New York City in April 2017. The piece brilliantly showed the inherited meaning and traditions of the Spring season in Taiwanese culture. In 2015, Apple's piece Wild Cursive for 13 Percussionists was premiered by the NYU Percussion Ensemble at Loewe Theater as the final piece, in which, she especially used the element of water, bamboo, scarf, paper, and pebbles, conveying the essence and beauty of the wild cursive calligraphy.

​

 

 

 

 

With a passion to praise nature and an ingrained love for her hometown, Taiwan, Apple again, delivered the beauty and uniqueness of the nature motherland with her unique voice of composition. She was commissioned by the world-class percussion group in Taiwan, the Ju Percussion Group, and composed the commissioned work The Mountain for 8 percussionists which grandly blends the elements of water, pebbles, and traditional Eastern instruments based on Apple's exploration. The piece was world premiered in the concert "Sound Ideas", the final chapter in a three-year “Cross-Generation Commissioned Works Trilogy”, which was held in March 2019 at National Concert Hall in Taipei Taiwan. The unique arrangement and technique using the water, pebbles, and specially selected Eastern percussion instruments with more original sounds and colors, The Mountain delivered the poetic and epic spirit and voice of the beautiful mountains in Taiwan, echoing the life and philosophy throughout the history hidden in the land and culture. The Ju Percussion Group also gave a special performance of The Mountain at the 2022 Taoyuan Land Art Festival, an outstanding annual art festival in Taiwan, reflecting the spirit of the festival's theme: ‘River, Flow, Pulse.’ It brings together 28 artists from Taiwan and abroad, collaborating with 14 local communities and schools to showcase 30 installation artworks. The festival conveys the concepts of sustainability through "ecology," "life," and "production." From the weaving art of indigenous national treasure-level masters to bamboo weaving techniques, and the use of recycled and natural materials, the festival also incorporates music and performance groups, showcasing a dialogue between art and nature.
 

 

​

Apple Chang received her Master of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition at New York University(NYU) Steinhardt School. As a passionate and dedicated artist, Apple was the only chosen exchange student of the 2012 University of North Texas, music department on behalf of the music department of National Taiwan Normal University(Taiwan premium music school), where she studied piano with Steven Harlos and studied jazz piano with Sergio Pamies. She also performed as the live pianist for ballet and modern dance at several institions from 2012 to 2015, including Cloud Gate dance studio in Taiwan, Taipei National University of the Arts(TNUA), the TISCH dance department at New York University and the dance department in the University of North Texas. In 2014 summer, Apple was specially invited by Cloud Gate Dance studio in Taipei, as the live pianist for the "2014 Cloud Gate Dance Summer Modern Dance Camp." As an active composer, Apple has collaborated with renowned conductors, performing artists and institutions, including Ju Percussion Group(Taiwan); Yu-An Chang(conductor), first prize winner of 2016 7th international Conducting Competition Jeunesses Musicales Bucharest; Kevin Lin(violinist), the co-leader of London Philharmonic Orchestra (2017-2018 season); Yi-Chih Lu, Taiwanese pianist, second prize winner of the 3rd Sendai International Music Competition; William Wei(violinist), the unranked laureate of 2015 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition; Chinese violist Ziyu Shen, winner of the 11th Curtis National Viola Competition; Andy Lin(violist), previous member of chamber music society of Lincoln Center and the founder and artistic director of New Asia Chamber Music Society; Suhyun Park, violinist of New York Philharmonic Orchestra; Richard Lin(violinist), first Prize in 10th International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (2018); and Jung-Hsuan Ko(cellist), the assistant principal cello of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

​

 

With a unique musical language that fuses Eastern and Western influences, while delivering the essence of Taiwanese culture and aesthetics, Apple’s compositions captured the attention of one of Taiwan’s premier orchestras, OneSong Orchestra. The orchestra is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the island’s musical legacy, while inspiring future generations to appreciate and contribute to Taiwan’s evolving musical landscape. As a cultural ambassador bringing the spirit of Taiwan to audiences at home and abroad, Apple was commissioned to rearrange her original composition Spring into a version for solo violin and string ensemble. The new arrangement premiered with OneSong Orchestra in Taiwan, featured in a five-concert series held at the renowned Eslite Spectrum Songyan Store Performance Hall during the Taiwanese Lunar New Year season in 2024. This collaboration further highlighted the orchestra’s commitment to showcasing Taiwanese music while nurturing its distinct cultural roots.