Musicatlas
Music
An active composer of acoustic, electro-acoustic and inter-disciplinary works, Joseph Waters belongs to the first generation of classical composers that grew up playing in rock bands. Many of his works explore live performance and cutting edge electronics. The performance elements include tradional acoustic instruments from around the world (such as compositions for the Chinese Zheng and Japanese Koto as well as traditional European instruments), electronics, "live" experimental film scores and performance art. He is composing an on-going series of duets for solo virtuoso acoustic instrumentalist with live electronic accompaniment as well as works for ensembles of all sizes — chamber to symphonic.
He has presented and performed his works in Russia (Alternativa Festival at Composer’s Hall — Moscow Conservatory), China (International Computer Music Conference — Tsinghua University, Beijing), Spain (Festival Internacional de Musica da Cadiz — University of Cadiz), Hungary (Music of Our Century Festival — Budapest) and (International Summer Meeting of Electro-Acoustic Music — Nadasdy Castle, Sarvar), Mexico (Festival Internacional de Arte Sonoro — Mexico City) Hong Kong (Festival of Chinese Arts — Hong Kong Cultural Center), Cuba (International Computer Music Conference — Habana), Argentina (Ensemble Rosario — Rosario) and throughout the U.S.A.
Life
Born 1952, raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Attended Yale University (M.M. - composition, 1982), University of Minnesota (B.A. - composition/theory, 1980), University of Oregon (Ph.D. - composition, 2002). Currently Director of Electro-Acoustic and Media Composition at San Diego State University, plus Artistic Director of NWEAMO (North-West Electro-Acosutic Music Organization) -- which puts on an annual international festival of electro-acoustic music.