Pei-En Ai is a first-year graduate student at UNCSA, pursuing a Master of
Music in Composition for Film and Visual Media.
Pei-En grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. She began studying piano and violin in
childhood. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music composition in Taiwan
and graduated from UNCSA with her Master of Music in Composition in 2025.
In the past two summers, she participated in the Atlantic Music Festival in
Maine and the Berlin Transatlantic Composer Workshop, where her
compositions were premiered. One of her pieces, Echos of the Tea Hills,
reflects her cultural heritage as a Hakka, a minority group from Taiwan.
Before studying in the U.S., Pei-En worked as a substitute music teacher for both
primary and middle schools in Taiwan. She also led music workshops for
elderly participants focused on hand drumming and creative engagement, and
taught character education through music storytelling to preschool children. At
UNCSA, she served as a teaching assistant in composition for the
undergraduate counterpoint class.
Pei-En enjoys interacting with people of all ages and is passionate about
using music as a way to connect, inspire, and express. She brings a
perspective to her work, encouraging others to appreciate, enjoy, and create
music from a variety of angles and ways in this beautiful and diverse world.