Taiwanese composer becomes 1st Asian winner at Apulia Soundtrack Awards

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Taiwanese composer Chiang Yi-chen (江宜臻) has become the first Asian and the first woman to win an award at Italy's Apulia Soundtrack Awards, held July 4-6.

Chiang received the Emerging Composer Award and said at the ceremony that she was thrilled her music could transcend language and cultural boundaries.

She added that she hopes her work will help amplify Taiwan's voice on the global stage.

Founded in 2021 to recognize excellence in film music, the Apulia Soundtrack Awards were presented this year by Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley and Italian composer Carlo Crivelli.

Head judge Cyril Morin, an acclaimed film composer, praised Chiang's work for blending Asian and Hollywood musical styles, saying, "The moment I heard all the finalists' work, I knew she was the winner."

During the ceremony, Chiang performed the end-credit score from Stories of the Return, a film about a Taiwanese-American woman's emotional journey back to her roots.