New Music Central: Music as an Act of Translation

Join composer Inga Chinilina for a conversation on whether music is a universal language and how it serves as a tool for sharing stories, sonic experiences, and emotions. In her presentation, Inga will explore music as an act of translation—what is preserved, lost, and transformed in the process. We will examine how cultural conventions and musical traditions shape the way composers think and communicate through music. Through examples from her recent works, Inga will demonstrate how music conveys feelings, sonic memories, and personal experiences.

Inga Chinilina composes works spanning both acoustic and electroacoustic realms, including intimate solo pieces, orchestral works, as well as music for dance and film. She conceptualizes music as an act of translation—an idea she explores through her academic and creative work.

Her research examines how cultural context influences our perception and representation of sound by analyzing how composers evoke sounds from our daily lives within their compositions. In her creative practice, Inga translates personal experiences and stories into sound, reflecting a broad spectrum of societal concerns that include immigration, womanhood, and the environment.