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Composer

 

Ken Ueno is a contemporary classical music composer, vocalist, and improviser. He was born on January 31, 1970, in New York City, but grew up in San Francisco, California. Ueno’s parents were both immigrants from Japan, and his father was a jazz pianist. Ueno’s early exposure to music was through his father’s jazz records, which he listened to as a child. He began playing the piano at the age of four and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. Ueno attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in composition from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from Harvard University. Ueno’s music is characterized by its experimental and unconventional nature. He often incorporates extended techniques, such as vocal multiphonics and microtonality, into his compositions. Ueno’s music also frequently explores the intersection of different musical traditions, such as Western classical music and Japanese traditional music. One of Ueno’s most well-known works is his composition for solo voice and electronics, “Shiroi Ishi.” The piece was inspired by the Japanese folktale of the same name, which tells the story of a man who is transformed into a stone by a witch. Ueno’s composition uses vocal multiphonics to create a haunting, otherworldly sound, and the electronics add layers of texture and complexity to the piece. Another notable work by Ueno is his composition for orchestra and electronics, “On a Sufficient Condition for the Existence of Most Specific Hypothesis.” The piece was commissioned by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and premiered in 2011. The title of the piece is a reference to a concept in computer science and artificial intelligence, and the music reflects this theme through its use of complex rhythms and intricate patterns. Ueno has also collaborated with a number of other musicians and artists throughout his career. He has worked with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the Arditti Quartet, among others. In addition to his work as a composer, Ueno is also an accomplished vocalist and improviser. He has performed with a number of improvisation groups, including the Natto Quartet and the Ensembles of Improvisers. Ueno has received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer. In 2006, he was awarded the Rome Prize in Music Composition, which allowed him to spend a year studying and working in Rome. He has also received grants and fellowships from the Fromm Music Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In addition to his work as a composer and performer, Ueno is also a dedicated educator. He has taught at a number of universities and conservatories, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Diego. He is currently a professor of music at the University of California, Berkeley. Overall, Ken Ueno is a highly innovative and influential composer in the world of contemporary classical music. His work is characterized by its experimental nature and its exploration of the intersection of different musical traditions. Through his compositions, performances, and teaching, Ueno has made a significant contribution to the world of music and continues to inspire and influence musicians and audiences around the world.

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