Paulo Brito, serving as a faculty at the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, is the first prize winner of the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award. Having recently received his doctorate in composition from the University of Toronto, he holds MA and BA degrees from the University of Chicago and Columbia University, respectively. Paulo Brito has been featured as a composer and pianist at international venues including the Royaumont Festival, Weiwuying International Music Festival, Lisbon ESML Composition Week, Shanghai Conservatory of Music New Music Week, and the University of Toronto New Music Festival. His music has been performed by ensembles including Linea, Ars Nova, Meitar, Recherche, Avanti Chamber Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. His research has been published in the peer-reviewed journals Asian Music, The Russian Review, Renditions, and Folklore.