Described as “particularly evocative,” “fluid and theatrical… the music [that] makes its case with immediacy” as well as both “assertive and steely,” and “lovely, supple writing”, music by Liliya Ugay has been performed by the Washington National Opera, Nashville Symphony, Albany Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, New England Philharmonic, Yale Philharmonia, Next Festival, Norfolk Festival Choir, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Molinari Quartet, Victory Players, ensemble vim, Andrea Lam, and Paul Neubauer among others. Her compositions have been featured at the Aspen, Norfolk, Cultivate, MIFA, American Composers, Chelsea, New York Electroacoustic Music, June in Buffalo, and Darmstadt New Music festivals, as well as the 52nd Venice Biennale. She has received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, ASCAP, Yale University; she was also a finalist for the Rome Prize. As a pianist she promotes the music of repressed composers in her concert series Silenced Voices and enjoys improvising in concert settings. Originally from Uzbekistan, Liliya serves on composition faculty at Florida State University, simultaneously directing Polymorphia (FSU New Music Ensemble). Ugay holds master and doctorate degrees from Yale; among her mentors are Aaron Kernis, Martin Bresnick, and David Lang.