Nyandeng Juag

2023-2024 Young Composer-in-Residence

 

Nyandeng Juag is a South Sudanese-American vocalist, conductor, and composer. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Kenyon College in 2022. While at Kenyon, she studied voice with Rebecca Keck, conducting with Benjamin Locke, and composition with Ross Feller. Nyandeng sang in the Kenyon College Chamber Singers for four years and served as president her senior year. She was also president of Colla Voce, a treble-voice classical and folk a cappella group. Passionate about cultivating inclusive, genre-expansive musical spaces, Nyandeng co-founded and was president and co-music director of POCappella, a group for students of color performing music by artists of color. In summer 2020, Nyandeng was the Administrative & Sound Design intern at New Perspectives Theatre Company (New York City), and premiered her piece “Vibrates with Memory” at the Virtual Women’s Work Short Play Festival. 

Nyandeng finds inspiration in her South Sudanese heritage and in diversifying classical music communities and repertoire. Nyandeng is also a singer-songwriter. She self-released her debut EP Fluorescent in 2021 and is now working on her next project. Nyandeng is currently based in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia, and hopes to relocate to Chicago in the coming months.

Young Composer Residency Commissions:
“Stranger” premiered November 10, 2023 in Chicago, IL by La Caccina

“The Black Finger” premiered January 14, 2024 in Evanston, IL at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

“Of Sun and Snow” premiered January 19, 2025 in Evanston, IL at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration