A California native, Emma Tucker (b. 2001) is a composer and oboist. “Like an impressive machine”, her music is described as a multi-sensory experience, combining spectral harmony with a synesthetic relationship between color and sound. Her musical influences range from Renaissance music and French impressionism to 21st century microtonal landscapes and just intonation. Her music is also aesthetically inspired by visual art and natural science, and is formally constructed primarily by creating shifts in harmony and timbre. Emma has worked with esteemed groups such as Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Linea, International Contemporary Ensemble, Brightwork NewMusic, and LIGAMENT.

Emma’s creative endeavors are motivated by a passion for collaboration and developing close relationships with other artists. Emma’s most recent collaboration with Dutch violinist Ernst Spykerelle has led to the conception of her newest work, Calling Card, exploring dense microtonal harmony.

Her collaboration with violinist Carina Yee has led to two newly composed works titled Verdigris (for prepared solo violin), and Axis of Asymmetry (for duo baroque and modern violins) – both performed at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2023. Emma recently became a resident composer of the Antigone Collective—Amelia Korbitz and Liam Battle; which has resulted in the commission of a new work, Shape Memory for prepared violin and cello.

Emma is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in music composition at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in the studio of Felipe Lara, from which she has also earned her Master’s of Music in the studios of Oscar Bettison and Eric Wubbels. Following her graduation from her master’s program, Emma received the Gustav Klemm Award in composition. Emma also holds Bachelor’s degrees in music composition and oboe performance from Chapman University where she studied with Jeffrey Holmes, Sean Heim, Vera Ivanova, and Ted Sugata. Her music is registered with ASCAP, and her works are self-published.