Resume

Arts & Research

Select Commissions

  • Orasaigh (2023), an acousmatic geolocative soundwalk setting of Steve Ely’s poem on the South Uist tidal island of Orasaigh. Mapped to a coastal walk around the island, this binaural work is structured around Ely’s narration of the poem with original compositions, sound design, and soundscapes captured on location in ESMA3D (surround) format.  This work was commissioned by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, with funds from the AHRC and Arts Council of England (45 minutes).
  • Machair (2022), an acousmatic geolocative soundwalk mapped to a section of the Hebridean Way on the island of Benbecula featuring original compositions, field recordings, spoken narratives and archive sound recordings from the University of Edinburgh School of Scottish Studies. Commissioned by Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre North Uist, launched in November 2022 with funds from Visit Scotland (35 minutes).
  • Carareretetatakakekerers (2021), electroacoustic composition and sound design for contemporary dance. Commissioned by choreographer Nicola Conibere, premiered at Sadler Wells Theatre, October 2021 with funds from the Arts Council of England (75 minutes).
  • By the Light of the Moon (2020), composition for piano and toy piano duet with live electronics and soundscape. Commissioned by Xenia Pestova Bennett, premiered online by Xenia Pestova Bennett and Pascal Meyer as part of NottNOISE x nonclassical, November 2020 (7 minutes).
  • The Metalization of a Dream (2019-2020) open form sound work and composition for open instrumentation commissioned by Galvanize Ensemble. Premiered by Galvanize Ensemble and Fretwork at Newcastle Lit & Phil (up to 30 minutes).
  • The Cries of London: Columbia Road (2017), a quadraphonic sound installation, Commissioned by The University of Kent and premiered at the Whitechapel Gallery, London (9 minutes).
  • No Man is an Island (2016), composition for voice and electronics commissioned by Sarah Dacey and premiered at nonclassical, London (7 minutes).
  • The Cries of Peckham Rye (2015), a multichannel sound work commissioned by Sarah Turner for her documentary film Public House (released Spring 2017), with funds from the Arts Council of England, and Film London (12 minutes) and was selected for premiere at the 2015 British Film Institute London Film Festival.
  • Cut, Strike, Throw, Grip. (2015), electroacoustic composition for two keyboards and electronics, commissioned by Kate Halsall, premiered at Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (5 minutes).
  • Surface to Surface (2013), acousmatic soundwalk comprised of 14 binaural miniatures, commissioned by Tate Modern, London (13 minutes).
  • Practice (2012), sound design composition commissioned by choreographer Nicola Conibare, premiered at the Bonnie Bird Theatre, Laban Centre, London (45 minutes).
  • Diesis (2011), composition for double bass and live electronics commissioned by the London Sinfonietta, premiered by Enno Senft in Hall 1, Kings Place. Recorded and commercially released on New Music Show, NMC/London Sinfonietta Records, 2012 (c.9 minutes)

Discography

  • Orasaigh, in print – scheduled for release Spring 2025.
  • The Metalization of a Dream (EP), Galvanize Records, 2021.
  • Definition, featured on Sarah Dacey’s compilation album Calliope, SMFA Records, 2017.
  • Cut, Strike, Throw, Grip. featured on Kate Halsall’s compilation album Mache/Miniaturized Concertos, Divine Art Records, 2015.
  • Diesis, featured on the London Sinfonietta’s compilation album New Music Show, NMC, 2012.

Select Exhibitions & Performances

  • Orasaigh, soundwalk installation, World Congress of Scottish Literatures, Nottingham, 2024.
  • Machair, soundwalk installation, Nordic Music Days, Glasgow, 2024.
  • Orasaigh, sound installation, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, North Uist, 2023.
  • Machair, soundwalk installation, Cork, 2024.
  • Machair, sound installation, GLEAM Festival, Glasgow, 2023.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, Cafe OTO, London, 2022.
  • Carareretetatakakekerers, Sadler’s Wells, London, 2021.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, City University, London, 2021.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, Sound Festival, live stream, 2021.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, Lit & Phil, live stream, 2021.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, nonclassical, live stream, 2020.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, Lit & Phil, Newcastle, 2019.
  • The Cries of Columbia Road, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 2017.
  • Cut, Strike, Throw, Grip, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, 2015.
  • Surface to Surface, sonic trail soundwalk, Tate Modern, 2014 – current.

Radio Broadcasts

  • Orasaigh, BBC Radio 3, 2024.
  • Machair, Radiopherina, 2023.
  • Machair, Resonance FM, 2023.
  • The Metalization of a Dream, Resonance FM, 2021.
  • Behold the Best of Mornings, BBC Radio 3, 2013.
  • Diesis, BBC Radio 3, 2012.
  • Good Boy, Bad Boy, BBC Radio 3, 2009.

Conferences, Symposia & Paper Publications

  • Sonic Cartography: Soundwalking on the Machair (2024), paper presentation at Environment, Space & Place conference at the University of Glasgow.
  • Sounding Climate Change (2024), paper presentation at Radical Humanities Conference, University College Cork, Ireland.
  • The Cries of London: On costers, pedlars, hawkers, fishwives, tinkers and barrow boys (2020) book chapter in Sonic Urbanism: the Political Voice edited by George Kafka published by Theatrum Mundi and &Beyond Collective (3444 words).
  • The Cries of London (2019), Paper presented at Crafting a Sonic Urbanism: the Political Voice, Theatrum Mundi, Paris, France.
  • Sounding out the space (2018), paper presentation at Sound Agendas conference, University of Sheffield.
  • Sound and Space (2017), paper presented at the Sound Thought conference at the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow.
  • Negotiating Space (2017), paper presentation at Sounding Out the Space conference at Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland.
  • Sounding out the Space (2016), a paper presented at Sticky Thick as part of Whitstable Biennale.

Curating & Programming

  • NottNOISE (artistic director) a quarterly series of live events showcasing Midlands based composers and sound artists, Rough Trade Nottingham.
  • NottNOISE Triennale (co-artistic director) international festival showcasing sound art, contemporary and experimental music, Nottingham (various venues).

Guest Speaker

  • Nordic Music Days Conference, Glasgow, 2024.
  • University of the Highlands and Islands (North, West and Hebrides), 2024.
  • Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, 2022.
  • University of Sheffield, 2018.
  • Ulster University, 2017.
  • Whitstable Biennale, 2016.

Awards, Bursaries, and Residencies

  • Ivor Novello Award nominee for Best Sound Art for the soundwalk Machair, 2023.
  • Walk Listen Create Sound Walk September Award nominee for the soundwalk Machair, 2023.
  • Artist in Residence,Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre, North Uist. A six-month sound art residency developing a series of geolocative soundwalks, with funding from Visit Scotland, 2022.
  • Cove Park Artist Residency, Helensburgh. A two-week NERC-funded residency researching the sonification of metrological data, 2022.
  • Britten Pears Arts, The Red House Aldeburgh. Two-week artist residency, 2020.
  • IRCAM, one-month sound design residency, Paris, France, 2011.
  • I-Park, one-month funded residency to the I-Park Artists Enclave, East Haddam, CT, USA, 2010.
  • Handel House Museum, London. Composer in Residence, 2008-2010.
  • Arts Council of England International Artist Residency, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Three-month artist residency at the Banff Centre, 2004.
  • Society for the Promotion of New Music Shortlisted Composer (now Sound & Music), awarded for the Rupture for saxophone quartet and organ, 2004.
  • Society for the Promotion of New Music Shortlisted Composer, awarded for string quartet Nook, 2001.
  • Honorary Fellow in Music, Sound & Image, Bath Spa University, 1999-2000.

Academic

Qualifications

  • PGCHE, Higher Education Studies, The University of Kent, UK.
  • PhD, Music Composition, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance/The University of Kent, UK.
  • Postgraduate course in Sonology, The Institute of Sonology, The Hague, The Netherlands.
  • Voortgezette Kunstopleiding (MA), Composition, Konoklijk Conservatorium, The Hague, The Netherlands.
  • MMus, Composition, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, UK.
  • BA(Hons) Music, Bath Spa University, UK.

Employment

Academic appointments

  • Associate Professor of Music Composition, School of Humanities, The University of Nottingham, 2018 – present. Teaching UG and PGR programmes in Liberal Arts, Music, and Music Technology.
  • Senior Lecturer in Music Composition & Sound Art, School of Music & Fine Art, The University of Kent, 2012 – 2017. Teaching UG, PGT, and PGR programmes in Fine Art, Music, and Music Technology.
  • Lecturer, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London, 2007 – 2012. Teaching UG, PGT and PGR programmes in Composition, Contemporary Dance, and Music Performance.
  • Visiting Lecturer, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 2007 – 2011. Teaching UG Music, and PGT Sonic Arts.
  • Visiting Lecturer, University of Hertfordshire, 2006-2008. Teaching UG and PGT Composition, Music Technology, and Sonic Arts.

Professional Memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
  • Ivor Novello Academy (professional member).
  • Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association.