CALL: PhD Fellowships in Composition and Computer Technologies, University of Virginia

Dear NIME community,

PhD Fellowships in Composition and Computer Technologies, University of Virginia

The University of Virginia McIntire Department of Music is accepting applications for the PhD in Composition and Computer Technologies (CCT). Generous five-year fellowships and teaching assistantships are available to a select number of qualified applicants. The program emphasizes the integration of acoustic and computer-based composition, considered as part of a diverse multimedia and interdisciplinary 21st Century field of art, design and music. UVA Music faculty including Judith Shatin, Matthew Burtner, Ted Coffey, Luke Dahl, Noel Lobley, Peter Bussigel and I-Jen Fang along with CCT Technical Director Travis Thatcher collaborate to build a unique climate of creative and technical research. In addition to making original compositions and sound art works, students have the opportunity to create their own new technologies and become involved with on-going CCT research groups. Current work involves multichannel digital audio, improvisation, motion capture, music for dance, installation art, songwriting, mobile app development, new media opera, video game design, vocal and chamber music composition, ecoacoustics, and the creation of new interfaces for musical expression.

CCT students may draw on the innovative Critical and Comparative Studies (CCS) program and a broad Performance program within the Department of Music. CCS develops interdisciplinary perspectives on music and musical culture. Performance at UVa promotes diverse traditions of music including western classical, jazz, marching band, new music, bluegrass, Klezmer, electronic, and African music and dance ensembles. In addition students may make use of the excellent academic resources of the University of Virginia outside of Music. Currently students and faculty collaborate closely with the departments/schools of Architecture, Engineering, English, Drama, Dance, Environmental Sciences, Art and Psychology.

The CCT Program develops and maintains a number of advanced computer music and multimedia research facilities including the Virginia Center for Computer Music (VCCM), the Jefferson Starship Recording Studio, the Music Interactions Lab (MIL), and the Wilson Interdisciplinary Maker Space (WIMS). CCT also works closely with a number of local venues and galleries to bring original student work into the community.

Student compositions are performed by visiting ensembles, faculty performers, and our ensembles-in-residence: the New Music Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Mobile Interactive Computer Ensemble (MICE), and others. Recent visiting groups playing graduate student compositions include Loadbang, Meehan/Perkins, Dither, Da Capo Chamber Players, the Jack String Quartet, Talujon Percussion Quartet, and the Relache and Verge Ensembles. New music from CCT is presented annually at the Digitalis and Technosonics Festivals. The Music Department also brings exciting scholars, technologists and artists to work with graduate students. Recent visitors have included Philip Glass, George Lewis, Betsey Biggs, Ichiro Fujinaga, Paul Lansky, Mamadou Diabate, Ko Umezaki, Brenda Hutchinson, John Petrucelli, Chris Chafe, and others.

To be considered for admission with funding, complete applications must be submitted by December 15. More information is available at http://music.virginia.edu/cct-phd and http://gsas.virginia.edu/admission