Gordon Monro — Formal biographical note

Gordon Monro is an electronic artist and composer based in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. He has composed works for acoustic instruments and tape, pieces with interactive electronics, pure tape pieces, abstract videos and multimedia works. He has a strong interest in writing computer programs that generate part or all of an artwork.

Gordon's works have been performed or shown in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and North America, and broadcast nationally in Australia. He is currently undertaking a PhD in the Faculty of Art and Design at Monash University in Melbourne, working in generative art.

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Gordon Monro — Informal biographical information

My original training was in science and mathematics: BSc (Hons) at Monash University, Melbourne, and PhD in mathematical logic at Bristol University, UK. I eventually became a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at the University of Sydney; I have now retired from that position and am concentrating on art.

Some events and influences relating to my involvement in music and art:

1980–2005: Sang from time to time in various choirs, including the Sydney Philharmonia Big Choir and the Contemporary Singers.

1989: Started in music composition after attending a music technology camp.

1990: Met the electronic composition pioneer Ian Fredericks, who was at that time both technician and teacher in the then Music Department (now Arts Music) at the University of Sydney. He had a mathematical problem arising from his work on moving sound around in space, which I solved. This began a connection with the Music Department which continued for 10 years or so.  I also became involved with the watt concerts, directed by Martin Wesley-Smith (then at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music) and Ian Fredericks. These had a strong multimedia focus, and my first contribution involved images rather than sound.

1993: With Anthony Hood, organised what the first of what became the annual Australasian Computer Music Conferences.

1994: Initiated an occasional electro-acoustic event, which now continues at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the name "Live Wires".

1996–97: Undertook a part-time Graduate Diploma in musical composition in the Music Department, having previously attended the Composition Workshop in the Department informally. This workshop was run by Peter Sculthorpe and Anne Boyd. My composition tutor for the Diploma was Dr Kirsty Beilharz.

1997–99: Devised and taught undergraduate units in Computer Music Composition in the Music Department, University of Sydney.

1998: Was granted associate representation as a composer with the Australian Music Centre, and in 2002 full representation.

1999: Attended a National Summer School on Science and Art, run by the Australian Network for Art and Technology. This had a strong visual arts focus, and was one of the influences leading to my present audio-visual work.

2002–7: Undertook a part-time MMus in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, with Dr Anthony Hood as supervisor. This gave me a framework for developing my interest in computer-generated artworks, and also introduced me to working with surround sound.

2008: Commenced a part-time PhD in the Faculty of Art and Design at Monash University in Melbourne, working in generative art, with Dr Karen Burns as supervisor.

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© Gordon Monro 2001-8.       Last modified: February 25, 2008.
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