Rj Dion

Rj Dion (b.2000) is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and artistic researcher who started his creative journey looking for avenues to combine his passions. Rj received his BM in Music Composition with a minor in Music History from The Hartt School, The University of Hartford in May 2023. He studied with Susan Botti, Nathalie Joachim, Tawnie Olson, and Javier Colon.

Rj’s composition has been multi-faceted, writing electro-acoustic, acoustic music, and improvisatory works. Through his time at The Hartt School, Dion’s fascination with guided improvisations has been a factor in his performance as well; writing multiple piano improvisations, one entitled “Hover” being used by choreographer Colby Connelly in a piece entitled “Motions of Impermanence”.  Through his research in ethnomusicology, he has expanded past common western instruments, having written for cimbalom, koto, and tabla. With electro-acoustic music, Rj has written multiple long-form projects, including one for Flute, Oboe, and Fixed Media entitled “Remote Turbulence”, a three-movement composition exploring the long-term effects of isolation and COVID-19. More recently Dion has been writing for specific performers in a collaborative process, from voice and chamber ensemble to viola and fixed media. 

As an artistic researcher, Dion’s primary focuses include classical eastern music. From an ethnomusicological standpoint, Rj has developed interests in Hindustani, Indonesian, and Japanese music, looking at these cultures from issues of gender, race, and authorship while connecting occurrences to the present. Recently Dion was awarded the Elizabeth Williams Cathles Award, a research award offered by the University of Hartford, to write an essay comparing Portuguese Fadu songs to Hindustani Rags showing the long-term overlap. 

Open to all forms of teaching! Whatever the student wants is the only priority!