Biography
Ben Sutherland is a musician/ sound artist, computer audio specialist, and teacher. His compositions, constructions, and performances span "classical," popular, and experimental genres, with particular interest in interactive computer music systems. As an audio technologist, he is particularly interested in pushing the bounds of existing audio tools (software, hardware, instruments), and in developing new or modified tools for creative and artistic purposes. His compositions have been performed across the country, and he has conducted or performed works in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Poznan, Poland. In addition, he has directed and managed computer music studios; coordinated, engineered, and recorded live and studio sound; and worked in audio archiving and preservation.
Ben has worked and taught at Lehigh University, St. Lawrence University, and the University of Chicago. He holds a B.A. in music from Oberlin College/ Conservatory, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in music composition from the University of Chicago, with specialization in computer music research. He was an Aspen Fellow in composition at the Aspen Music Festival.
He joined the faculty in the Department of Audio Arts & Acoustics in 2009, having first encountered the department as part-time faculty from 1997-2001. He teaches courses in Audio Design and Production, Acoustics (psychoacoustics), and Music Technology, with particular interest in developing curricula in Interactive Computer Music, Music Technology, Sound Synthesis and Design, and Audio Archiving, Preservation, and Restoration.
Degrees
B.A., Music Oberlin College 1993
M.A., Music University of Chicago 1997
Ph.D., Music University of Chicago 2001