Eli Philip Hocking (b. 2005) is a composer, poet, and organist whose work explores the intersection of language, culture, and sound. Described as having an “intriguing programmatic vision” by Don Freund, Hocking approaches music as both artifact and inquiry, his compositions reflect a deep curiosity about the human condition—an attempt to understand, document, and give shape to the experience of living. Drawn to the unvarnished sincerity of folk music traditions, Hocking has transcribed songs from northern Japan and the Bayaka people of Central Africa. Drawing from his background in linguistics, Hocking incorporates the rhythmic and melodic contours of world languages into his compositions, shaping a voice that is both diverse and deeply personal.

Hocking won the second place prize in the 2025 NOTUS Composition Competition, and has had pieces premiered by trumpeter Stephen Stavnicky and gayageum player Eunsun Jung 정은선. Using his knowledge of the French language, Hocking has set poems of Apollinaire and Lamartine for choir, and has presented those works to the French department at IU.

Hocking’s organ repertoire includes Messiaen’s Apparition de L’Église éternelle, Vierne’s Berceuse, and Sark’s Toccata Primi Toni. He has written numerous organ works, and has studied organ with Lois Leong and Robert Nicholls.

He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Composition from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with minors in French and Linguistics. He is currently studying composition with P.Q. Phan.