Kui Dong was born in Beijing, China and received B.A. and M.A. degrees in theory and composition from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In 1991 she moved to California, where she obtained a doctoral degree in composition from Stanford University.

Kui Dong's compositions span diverse genres and styles and include ballet, orchestral and chamber works, chorus, electro-acoustic music, film scores, and multi-media art. Among most recent honors and awards she has received was the 2001 ISCM composition prize, 2000-2001 Kossevtisky Foundation/Library Congress.

Dong's music has been performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Central Ballet of China, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, The Symphony Orchestra of the Musical Theatre-studio, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the New York New Music Ensemble, Composer’s Inc., Alea III, Music from China and the Beijing Dance Institute, Earplay New Music Ensemble, Dale Warland Singers, San Francisco Chamber Singers and among others, and has been presented in music festivals in France, Finland, China, Argentina, and the US
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Since 1997, Dong has been Assistant Professor of Music at Dartmouth College and has been playing free improvisation with Christian Wolff and Larry Polansky. .Her composition and computer music teachers include Liu Zhuang, Wu Zuqiang, Du Mingxin, Chris Chafe, John Chowning, and Leland Smith.