He's only just now graduating from Simon Fraser University, but James O'Callaghan is already making waves in his chosen field.

O'Callaghan is graduating with a bachelor of fine arts from SFU at the university's convocation today (June 15).

The 23-year-old is a rising star in the world of composition, writing for orchestras, chamber ensembles and more.

He has already seen his first four orchestral compositions premiered by professional orchestras - two by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

The VSO most recently performed Mouths, a five-minute piece in which a single viola plays a middle C note that expands outward, incorporating other instruments as the music increases.

The Victoria Symphony Orchestra performed two other pieces by O'Callaghan, including The Earth, Split Open, which he describes as "a meditation on the fragility of the earth beneath our feet."

O'Callaghan uses sketches, computer software and sometimes guitar strumming to interweave sounds, visuals and music into auditory visions for orchestras, chamber musicians, electro-acoustic recordings and films.

"I'm constantly looking for new ways to make music about something beyond just sounding interesting," O'Callaghan says. "Often I'm exploring how I can use classical instruments to imitate environmental recordings."

He recently wrote a piece for eight musicians - the instrumental translation of sirens, truck horns and a busking saxophonist - that was performed at the Vancouver Art Gallery's rotunda on June 7.

He has also created a piano score for poet Shannon Rayne's What Remains. A singer and pianist will perform the piece on June 19 at Art Song Lab 2011, at SFU Woodward's Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre. (See www.bccreativehub.com for more.)

O'Callaghan will pursue his master's degree in music at McGill University, with $20,000 in scholarships.

David MacIntyre, one of O'Callaghan's professors, says his talent is unique.

"We've had many award-winning young composers come through our program over the last 30 years," he said. "But James is a real standout."