Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

1970

 

Paul Whitty is a British composer and sound artist who has made significant contributions to the field of contemporary classical music. Born in 1969 in London, Whitty grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from an early age. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a classical pianist, which gave him a diverse musical education. Whitty began his formal musical training at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Edwin Roxburgh and electroacoustic music with Jonty Harrison. He later went on to earn a PhD in composition from the University of Huddersfield, where he studied with Richard Barrett and Liza Lim. Throughout his career, Whitty has been interested in exploring the boundaries between different musical genres and styles. He has worked with a wide range of musicians and artists, including classical ensembles, jazz musicians, and electronic musicians. His music often incorporates elements of improvisation, sound art, and experimental techniques. One of Whitty's most notable works is his piece "The Sound of Mu(sic)," which was commissioned by the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in 2007. The piece is a multimedia work that combines live performance with pre-recorded sound and video. It features a large ensemble of musicians, including a string quartet, a brass quintet, and a percussion ensemble, as well as a live video feed of the performers. Another significant work by Whitty is his piece "The River Project," which was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta in 2010. The piece is a site-specific work that was performed on the River Thames in London. It features a large ensemble of musicians, as well as a choir and a group of dancers. The performance took place on a barge that traveled up and down the river, with the music and dance responding to the changing landscape and environment. In addition to his work as a composer, Whitty is also a respected educator and researcher. He has taught at a number of universities in the UK, including the University of Huddersfield, the University of Birmingham, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has also published a number of articles and papers on topics related to contemporary music and sound art. Overall, Paul Whitty is a highly innovative and versatile composer who has made significant contributions to the field of contemporary classical music. His work is characterized by its experimental approach, its use of multimedia elements, and its exploration of the boundaries between different musical genres and styles.

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