Role

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Composer Performer

Birth

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1974

 

Erin Gee is a Canadian-American composer and vocalist who has gained international recognition for her innovative and experimental approach to classical music. Born on December 4, 1974, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Gee grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to classical music from a young age. Her mother was a pianist and her father was a composer, and they encouraged her to pursue her passion for music. Gee began her formal music education at the age of six, studying piano and voice. She later attended the University of British Columbia, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. She then went on to pursue a Master of Music degree in composition at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. During her studies, Gee became interested in the use of technology in music and began experimenting with electronic music and computer programming. She also became interested in the human voice as an instrument and began exploring the possibilities of vocal performance. In 2000, Gee moved to the United States to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition at Columbia University in New York City. It was during this time that she began to gain recognition for her innovative approach to music. One of Gee's most notable works is "Mouthpiece XIII," a composition for solo voice and electronics that she created in 2000. The piece features a series of vocalizations and sounds that are manipulated and transformed using computer software. "Mouthpiece XIII" has been performed at numerous international festivals and has been praised for its unique and experimental approach to vocal music. Gee has also gained recognition for her work with the Ensemble Intercontemporain, a Paris-based contemporary music ensemble. In 2007, she was commissioned by the ensemble to create a new work for their 30th anniversary celebration. The resulting piece, "Mouthpiece XXIV," features a solo vocalist and a chamber ensemble and explores the relationship between the human voice and instrumental music. In addition to her work as a composer, Gee is also an accomplished vocalist. She has performed her own works as well as works by other composers at numerous international festivals and venues. Her vocal style is characterized by its use of extended techniques, such as throat singing and multiphonics, and its incorporation of electronic manipulation. Gee has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018 and the Rome Prize in 2019. She has also been a resident artist at numerous institutions, including the MacDowell Colony, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, and the American Academy in Rome. Gee's work has been performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including the visual artist Tony Oursler and the choreographer Wayne McGregor. In addition to her work as a composer and vocalist, Gee is also a professor of music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has taught courses in composition, electronic music, and vocal performance, and has mentored numerous young composers and performers. Overall, Erin Gee is a highly innovative and experimental composer and vocalist who has made significant contributions to the field of classical music.

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