University of Auckland hosts Australasian Computer Music

Media release
27 June 2011

University of Auckland hosts Australasian Computer Music

The University of Auckland will next month host the Australasian Computer Music Conference, a role that reflects its place as a leader in the field of electroacoustic music research, scholarship and composition.

A prestigious line-up of composers and musicians from around New Zealand and the world will gather for the annual conference, which this year is themed Organic Sounds in Live Electroacoustic Music Organic Sounds in Live Electroacoustic Music (6-9 July). Renowned composer and performer Simon Emmerson (Professor in Music Technology and Innovation, De Montfort University, United Kingdom) will deliver the keynote address, “Living in a performing world – performing in a living world”.

Professor Emmerson’s public lecture will examine how, as a result of recording technologies and innovations, the sounding world itself has become a rich source of musical material—indeed, it is becoming a fully-fledged musical instrument, one that blurs any traditionally-held distinctions between subjects (performers) and objects (performed).

Other featured presenters include John Cousins, arguably the country’s leading sonic art composer; Australian-based scholar and composer Gerardo Dirie; and musician, ta mokota moko (Māori tattoo) artist and master carver Jason Phillips, who is a leading-authority on traditional Māori instruments. Five postgraduate students from the School of Music will also perform during the conference.

Over the course of the four-day gathering, participants will attend a variety of workshops, lectures and multi-channel concerts. Highlights include a series of intimate concerts presented through a 32-channel hemispherical sound system (known as the “acousmonium”), ”), as well as practical workshops on making and playing taonga puorotaonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments), and on multi-channel recording and spatialisation techniques.

Dr John Coulter heads The University of Auckland’s Sound and Sonic Arts programmes at the School of Music. A respected composer and musician, Dr Coulter says it is an honour to host the annual international conference. He says the University has a well-established and highly decorated history in the field of electroacoustic composition, and he is proud to continue this tradition.

“In recent years our music technology, sound and sonic arts programmes have grown considerably (456% growth over four years). Graduates of the electroacoustic music programme have presented at numerous international conferences and festivals in countries around the world including Argentina, Australia, China, France, Taiwan, the United States and the United Kingdom. The Australasian Computer Music Conference 2011 is a chance to showcase our expertise and talent on our own turf - alongside some of the world’s best electroacoustic musicians, researchers and educators,” says Dr Coulter.

The University of Auckland hosts the Australasian Computer Music Conference 6-9 July. For more information and registration visit: www.creative.auckland.ac.nz/nzemswww.creative.auckland.ac.nz/nzems

The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music and the Dance Studies Programme.

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