Yfat Soul Zisso
Biography
Composer
Ever since commencing on her music studies at the relatively late age of 15, Soul has been dedicated to her dream of becoming a composer. She graduated from Cardiff University, studying with Arlene Sierra and Robert Fokkens and for a brief time studying with Alison Kay, before commencing on a Masters and later a PhD in composition at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the supervision of Joe Cutler and Howard Skempton.
Her music, which has been described as "curiously original" (Wales Online) and "daring and moving" (The Daily Telegraph), has been performed by the likes of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Birmingham Opera Company, Xenia Pestova, Carla Rees, and the Fidelio Trio around the world in a wide range of venues including Symphony Hall, Hoddinott Hall and St John's Smith Square, and festivals such as the Cheltenham Music Festival, Occupy the Pianos and Birmingham Weekender festival. She was a Nonclassical associate composer for 2019-2021, and is currently on the Philharmonia Orchestra's Composers' Academy scheme.
Her interests range from the use of different microtonal soundworlds and textures to children’s books and the exploration of various extended techniques, such as quarter-tones and breathing as a musical idea.
In addition to composing, Soul is also a singer, specialising in performing contemporary repertoire, including Berio's Sequenza III for female voice. Previously a member of the BBC National Chorus of Wales and Via Nova chamber choir, she has performed as both soloist and choral singer across the UK (including at the Wigmore Hall and at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival) and abroad, most recently with the CBSO and BCMG as a soloist. Extremely committed to promoting new music, Soul has commissioned and premiered many new pieces, most of them for solo unaccompanied voice. She studies singing with contemporary specialist Wendy Nieper.
Photo by Anthony Leung
Singer
In addition to composing, Soul is also a soprano, specialising in the performance of contemporarty repertoire as both soloist and choral singer. She studies with Wendy Nieper.
As a soloist, Soul has commissioned and premiered many pieces for solo unaccompanied voice - her passion and speciality, and has performed in the UK and abroad, including the Wigmore Hall, LSO St Luke's, and several concerts as part of the Frontiers new music festival. She studies with contemporary specialist Wendy Nieper.
As a choral singer she was a member of BBC National Chorus of Wales for 3 years, performing countless concerts around the UK including at the BBC Proms. She is currently a member of Birmingham-based Via Nova chamber choir, dedicated to workshopping and performing new music, and has performed with them at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Frontiers festival, CoMA festival and alongside BCMG at the City of Sound festival .
As a composer-performer, Soul often writes for herself and performs her own music. As part of her PhD, She is researching composing quarter-tonally for voices.