Professor Nathan Wolek from Stetson University in Florida to visit Aberdeen
Professor Nathan Wolek from Stetson University in Florida, USA, is visiting the University of Aberdeen from January to June 2021 to conduct research on acoustic ecology and bioacoustics in North East Scotland. In particular, he will be studying the local soundscape in public parks and nature preserves, which has been a key research subject for him for the last few years. Professor Wolek will also teach Digital Musicianship modules for the first year music students and deliver research seminars and presentations at the department of music and SERG (Sound Emporium Research Group).
Professor Wolek is a sound artist and audio researcher whose work encompasses electronic music, audio field recording, multimedia performance, and sound design. He is currently the Lydia Pfund Endowed Professor of Digital Arts at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.
Wolek completed his Ph.D. in Music Technology at Northwestern University, with a thesis project that explored the perception of granular synthesis. It was during his graduate studies that Wolek began authoring and sharing software for creative sound design. Among many electronic musicians and sound artists, he continues to be best known for the Granular Toolkit and LowkeyNW package, both popular extensions to Cycling74’s Max environment.
His music and sound installations feature rapid edits, gradually changing textures, and environmental recordings of personal significance. Wolek has presented his creative work across the United States, in addition to engagements in Korea, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Canada and Brazil. His recent solo exhibition, Canaveral Soundscape, was the culmination of a 2020 residency at the ACA Soundscape Field Station at the Canaveral National Seashore.
Wolek’s research has been featured at the ICMC, SEAMUS, CMS, ATMI and CENSE conferences. His work has been recognised twice by the prestigious Fulbright Scholar exchange program. For his 2012 award to Norway, Wolek worked on the Jamoma software project in collaboration with members of the Bergen Center for Electronic Art.