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Biography
Kaisho Barnhill is a Seattle-based composer, conductor, percussionist, and pianist pursuing his master's degree in Music Composition at the University of Washington. He holds bachelor's degrees in Music Education, Music Theory, and Psychology, also from the University of Washington. During his undergraduate studies, his primary teachers were Dr. Bonnie Whiting and Mr. William White.
In March 2026, Barnhill won the Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble's Robert Scandrett Memorial Award in the Undergraduate Division with his work Apollo 11, which was then premiered in May. In February 2026, his work Fantasy for Piano was accepted to the Washington State University Festival of Creative Artists in Music, where he performed the premiere. In May 2025, the Seattle Festival Orchestra premiered his orchestral work Monday Mornings after he won their annual international Call for Scores.
Barnhill performs regularly with the UW Symphony Orchestra, UW Percussion Ensemble, and Seattle Festival Orchestra as a percussionist and pianist. He has also appeared with Harmonia Orchestra and Chorus, the Seattle Wind Symphony, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In 2025, he won the UW Concerto Competition in the Winds, Brass & Percussion division with a performance of Keiko Abe's marimba concerto Prism Rhapsody.
As a conductor, Barnhill holds the position of Conducting Fellow with the Seattle Festival Orchestra, where he works under the mentorship of Music Director Dr. Yuchi Chou. He conducted the orchestra in several appearances during the 2025-26 season. In June 2026, he won Third Prize at the Adrian Gnam International Conductors Workshop and Competition in Atlanta, Georgia.