The Eastman Audio Research Studio (EARS) emerged from the Eastman Computer Music Center, founded by Allan Schindler in 1981, as a platform for research, experimentation and realization of new music and sound art at the Eastman School of Music. Eastman is delighted to announce that composer Dr. Mikel Kuehn ’93E (MA), ’95E (PhD) has been appointed as director of the program, starting in fall 2023 when he commences his tenure as Professor of Composition at Eastman. Coinciding with Kuehn’s appointment, EARS will be rebranded to the Electroacoustic Music Studios @ Eastman (EMuSE).

“I am thrilled to welcome Mikel Kuehn as a member of the Composition Department faculty and as the director of the electroacoustic music studio,” shares Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Chair of the Composition Department. “Mikel is not only a distinguished composer with an established international reputation, but an outstanding and experienced teacher, as well as a leading expert in technological applications in the field of music composition. His vision for EMuSE builds on the strong tradition of the studio as a creative space in which technology empowers new paths of expression for compositional and performative imagination. I look forward enthusiastically to this new phase of the studio under Mikel’s direction, and to his wonderful contributions as a teacher and creative artist.”

EMuSE concerts will feature new compositions by prominent guest artists and students alongside historical works. Additionally, Eastman performers will have the opportunity to learn about music technology for concert production, potentially unlocking a world of new repertoire.

“Building on the outstanding talents of Eastman students, EMuSE will foster musical expression occurring at the intersection of contemporary music composition, instrumental/vocal performance, and technology,” says Kuehn. “Areas of focus will include audio synthesis techniques, computer assisted composition, creative coding, digital signal processing, sound design, and spatialization.”

To learn more about the current EARS program, visit esm.rochester.edu/ears. The EMuSE website is coming soon.