About

As a composer, improviser, vocalist, and cellist, my work spans classical, experimental, improvised, folk, jazz, dance, and multimedia genres, often integrated with environmental studies and creative writing. At the heart of my practice are collaboration and innovation—especially through movement, immersive experiences, and spatial exploration. I often draw inspiration from hidden voices and energies in both the human and natural worlds, aspiring to create expressions that open up space for understanding and creativity.

As a performer, improvisor, and scholar, I enjoy playing and learning music & musical traditions from different places around the world such as indigenous and folk music in Southern/Western/Southwestern China, Japan, African drum and dance, jazz and improvisation, and more. I have played with musicians from North and South America, West Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and Europe in various ensembles and musical festivals/residencies, and embraced the energy, rhythms, communities, and history of diverse countries and cultures, which constantly nurtures my intellectual and emotional strength. 

I aspire to delve into new narratives and imagination through exploring multidisciplinary collaboration, cross-genre experiment, and responding to historical and contemporary questions. 

Hayley holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University (Art History) and Master’s Degree from New England Conservatory (Contemporary Improvisation).

Performance Venues/ Collaborators/ Supporters:

Hayley’s music and interdisciplinary projects have been presented at the Banff Centre, Experimental Institute at Antenna Cloud Farm, Silkroad Global Musician Workshop, Collage New Music’s Collage Composers Colloquium, New England Conservatory Jordan Hall, Boston Conservatory, Horizon Ensemble, Asian American Ballet Project, Pao Arts Center, Boston Public Libraries, Newsfeed Café, Mass General Hospital, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Library and Archives, Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE), ASCAP, ASA, Landscape Music, and generously supported by the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, New England Foundation for the Arts, Mass Cultural Council, Big Ears Festival Artist Fellowship, Mansfield Freeman Asian Scholars Association, Edward Augustus Russell House, William Lankford Memorial Fund, Squire Fund, and Ruth and Hank Fins Grant.

Hayley has collaborated, studied, performed with innovative Komungo virtuoso Jin-Hi Kim, organist and jazz improviser Alcee Chriss, composer/improvisor Carla Kihlstedt, jazz guitarist, bassist, composer Joe Morris, cellist Mike Block, balafon musician Balla Kouyaté, West African music performer and ethnographer John Wesley Dankwa; composer/improvisor Nima Janmohammadi, and many more…