Zara Ali, composer (Memphis, TN), has attended the Cleveland Institute of Music Young Composers Program, Oberlin Conservatory Composition Workshop, Boston Conservatory's Composition Intensive, and Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artist Composition Program.  She won honorable mention at the 2012 International Pikes Peak Young Composers Competition and was a finalist in the 2013 and 2014 ASCAP’s Morton Gould Composer Awards. Last year, Zara won first prize at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Generation Next Young Composers Competition, and her piece was broadcast on Chicago PBS. Her work has also been performed during Memphis’ annual Belvedere Chamber Music Festival, hosted by Luna Nova New Music Ensemble. Zara is also a former YAP participant, attending Yellow Barn last summer. Zara is currently studying anthropology and composition at Columbia University. Past YAP musician (2014)