Dr Louise Rossiter
Email: louise.rossiter@dmu.ac.uk Web: www.louiserossiter.com
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My main research interests include electroacoustic composition, expectation in music, silence in music, music in the community and acoustic ecology.
As a composer, my practice primarily involves acousmatic music. In my music, I aim to create highly immersive pieces of work which are in some way unpredictable. Previous projects have focused on silence (Rift, Si02), real and imaginary places (Tout autour de la montagne, Dream Machine) and enigmatic sound (Mordicum, Sacred Voices). I also specialise in multi-channel and spatialisation of music and have composed works ranging from stereo to 16-channel and multi-channel loudspeaker dome using Zirkonium software.
My music has been performed and broadcast around the world and recognised in several international competitions. I have also undertaken a number of commissions and residencies, periods of study and fieldwork abroad.
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECT: MUSIC – BODIES – MACHINES (MAY 2018 – PRESENT)
I am currently composing a series of pieces which explore the work of Fritz Kahn. Dr Kahn’s work revolutionised the area of infographics by producing images representing the human anatomy as complex pieces of machinery. The research project provides a tangible link to explore between sound, imagery and imagination to explore expectations. A number of works covering different formats and ensembles will be composed – each exploring a different theme of Kahn’s work. A journal paper exploring compositional practice and influences from Kahn’s work will also be written.
EDUCATION
2012 – 2017 De Montfort University, Faculty of Technology
PhD in Music (Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council)
Research Project Title: A Practical Investigation of Expectation in Acousmatic Music.
Supervisors: Professor John Young and Professor Simon Emmerson
2010 – 2012 Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh
Master of Music (Composition) awarded with distinction
Supervisor: Dr Robert Dow
2005 – 2010 The University of Aberdeen
Bachelor of Music (2:i)
Awarded the Chris Cadwur James Composition Prize
Supervisor: Professor Pete Stollery
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Grade 8 (Trinity) Piano
Grade 5 (ABRSM) Music theory
FULL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Oct 2015 – present:
De Montfort University
Building Attendant
Providing a security presence in the library/halls of residence and dealing with incidents as required. Ensuring buildings are free of hazards. Acting as fire evacuation controller and as first aider/first responder. Completing reports in a timely manner and undertaking training as required.
Providing pastoral care for students.
Oct 2012 – June 2017:
De Montfort University
Doctorate in Music – fully funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council
Research Project Title: A Practical Investigation of Expectation in Acousmatic Music.
October 2015 – January 2016:
De Montfort University
Lecturer on second year undergaduate module “Sound in Space”.
This position included writing and presenting lectures on sound diffusion systems and
spatialisation and tutoring small groups of students on sound diffusion in preparation for
exams.
January 2012 – June 2012:
Stevenson College, Edinburgh
Supervisor of HND students majoring in composition. Responsible for small-group tutoring of
sound design and film music composition modules.
November 2011 – August 2012:
DM Design, Kirkcaldy.
Telecanvasser.
Duties involved telephoning potential customers to harvest information and provide ‘leads’ for salesmen.
September 2010 – June 2011:
Adam Smith College, Fife
Lecturer in Sound Production Responsible for planning, teaching and assessment of practical and theoretical elements of Higher National Diploma and National Certificate
courses. Courses taught included sound production, studio practice, music history and
composition. Responsibilities included preparing and providing lectures, tutorials, workshops, assessments and pastoral care alongside academic duties. It was in this role that I developed my own personal preference towards hybrid learning techniques, integrating theoretical materials and practical application in order to solidify learning through action and engagement.
August 2007 – August 2010:
Powergirls, Costco, Aberdeen
Demonstrator services.
Duties included serving samples and promoting selected products to customers. Maintaining levels of hygiene and cleaning work area as required.
COMMISSIONS
2018 Homo Machina, Stereo acousmatic work: Acousmatic Project, Vienna.
2018 Fairytale Journey: Acousmatic work for loudspeaker dome: Birmingham ElectroAcoustic Sound Theatre (BEAST)
2014 Sacred Voices: Liverpool Forum
2013 Our Song (我們的歌): De Montfort University, University of Aberdeen, Scottish China Education Network.
PUBLICATIONS
Rossiter, M.L., (2018) Mondes Intérieurs, Xylem Records, [ONLINE], XYLEM LR2018.
Rossiter, M.L. (2014) ‘The Role and Definition of Expectation in Acousmatic Music… Some Starting Points… ‘. Proceedings of the Sound, Sight, Space and Play Conference 2013 1,(1).
Rossiter, M.L., (2014) Traces, Xylem Records, [CD], XYLEM LR2014.
Rossiter, M.L. (2011) ‘Acoustic Ecology as Therapy’. Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care.
CITATIONS
Rift in Hugill, A. (2018) The Digital Musician. Third Edition. London. Routledge.
Moore, A. (2016) Sonic Art: An introduction to electroacoustic music composition. London. Routledge.
SIGNIFICANT PRIZES AND MENTIONS
2018 Nominated for a PRSF/BBC Daphne Oram award.
2016 Rift selected in the Destellos international composition competition
2015 Tout autour de la montagne awarded a mention in the Destellos international composition competition
2013 Finalist in Franz Liszt Stipendium, Weimar
2012 Awarded first prize in the L’espace du son international spatialisation competition
RESEARCH FUNDING AND AWARDS
2015 – 2017 Graduate school funding to establish and organise Art and Sound Symposium (£2150 per conference).
2014 Fellowship of the Scottish International Education Trust. Awarded £2000 to undertake a two month residency in Montréal during 2014.
2013 Awarded commissions from Scotland China Education Network, University of Aberdeen Confucius Institute and De Montfort University Confucius institute to compose work for opening events (£3000).
2013 Awarded commission from Forum Liverpool to compose stereo work Sacred Voices (£300).
2012 – 2015 AHRC funding for PhD study at DMU (2012-2015)
UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS OF WORK
March 2019: Presentation and performance of work, Falmouth University.
Spring 2019: Composer in Residence, University of Sheffield.
May 2019: Presentation: Rewind/Fast-Forward: Reimagining the work of Fritz Kahn through sound. BEASTFEaST, University of Birmingham.
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
Significant performances are listed below. Please see Appendix for further information.
Homo Machina
Premiere: Sound Festival, Aberdeen, November 2018
Music – Bodies – Machines (Composer Portrait), BEAST, University of Birmingham, November 2018.
Electroacoustic music in Great Britain: Past/Present/Future. Concert 1. University of Greenwich, January 2019.
Fairytale Journey on the Bloodstream (For Loudspeaker Dome)
Premiere: Music – Bodies – Machines (Composer Portrait), BEAST, University of Birmingham, November 2018
Tout autour de la montagne
Premiere: Cultural Exchanges Festival, De Montfort University, February 2015
Listening Beyond, City University, London, 10 March 2015
Acousmatic Transcendence, University of Kent, May 2015
Sonic Voyages: Mass and Motion, Bristol University, 16 October 2015
BEASTdome, University of Birmingham, October 2016
Influx, Musiques et Reserches, June 2017
Klingt Gut Symposium, Hamburg, June 2018
Black Velvet
Premiere: BEAST @ University of Aberdeen, November 2010
Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium, Canada, August 2011
Electronic Music Week, Shanghai, China, November 2011
Music – Bodies – Machines (Composer Portrait), BEAST, University of Birmingham, November 2018
Rift
Premiere: De Montfort University, Leicester, 14 October, 2015
L’Espace du Son, Brussels, October 25, 2015 (Performed by Sophie Delafontaine).
NYCEMF, New York, June 2016. (Performed by John Young).
Looking Back – Looking Forward, Influx, Musiques et Reserches, June 2017 (Performed by John Young)
SELECTED LIST OF PAPER PRESENTATIONS
2018 Klingt Gut Symposium, Hamburg. Expectation in Electroacoustic music.
2018 BEASTFeast, University of Birmingham. Expectation in Acousmatic Music: The Democracy of Sound.
2018 University of Falmouth. Expectation in Acousmatic Music.
2017 BEASTFeast, University of Birmingham. Sonic CSI – Introduction to Sonic Evidence.
2015 EMS Conference, University of Sheffield. Silence and Expectation in Acousmatic Music: Perspectives from a Comparative Analysis
RECENT CONCERT AND CONFERENCE ORGANISATION
2017 Art and Sound Symposium – De Montfort University, Leicester
Following the success of the first Art and Sound Symposium, further funding was obtained to run a second rendition.
2015 Art and Sound Symposium – Phoenix Square and Curve Theatre, Leicester
A one day symposium for practitioners from across the arts focusing on the theme of ‘place’. The event was supported by an award from De Montfort University Graduate School.
PEER REVIEWING EXPERIENCE
2019 Peer reviewer for Convergence International Conference. Leicester
2015 – 2017 Peer reviewer for Art and Sound Symposium. Leicester.
December 2016 Peer reviewer for Organised Sound Journal.
2013 – 2015 Peer reviewer for Sound, Sight, Space, Play Conference. Leicester
WORKSHOPS
2019 – Falmouth University
Invited to present a lecture and half day workshop focusing on electroacoustic music and diffusion.
2018 – Falmouth University
Invited to present two music technology workshops focusing on electroacoustic music and multi-channel composition.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
October 2015 – January 2016 De Montfort University
Lecturer on second year undergraduate module “Sound in Space”.
January 2012 – June 2012 Stevenson College, Edinburgh
Supervisor of HND students majoring in composition.
September 2010 – June 2011 Adam Smith College, Fife
Responsible for planning, teaching and assessment of practical and theoretical elements of Higher National Diploma and National Certificate courses. Courses taught included sound production, studio practice, music history and composition.
REFEREES
Available on Request