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Born in Wynyard, Saskatchewan in 1964, Brent Lee grew up in the Edmonton area, where he studied saxophone and guitar. He completed his Bachelor’s (1986) and Master’s (1990) degrees at McGill University, studying composition with Brian Cherney, Bruce Mather, and Donald Steven; he also studied computer and electroacoustic music at McGill with Bruce Pennycook and alcides lanza. While still a student, he was awarded several composition prizes through CAPAC and SOCAN, and was one of six young composers to receive a Residency Prize at the Bourges International Electroacoustic Music Festival in 1988. After extended residencies in the Netherlands, France and at the Banff Centre, he settled in Calgary in 1990, where he taught at the Mount Royal College Conservatory, volunteered with New Works Calgary, and performed with the crossover ensembles Strictly Plutonic and Modus vivendi. In 1999 he completed a doctoral degree at the University of British Columbia, studying composition with Keith Hamel and Steve Chatman. While in Vancouver, he also undertook orchestration studies with Nikolai Korndorf. After a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at UBC, he accepted a position at the University of Windsor in 2002, and served as composer-in-residence with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra from 2003-06. In 2008 he founded the Noiseborder Ensemble, a group that bridges chamber music and popular music traditions and explores the possibilities live audio and video mixing. He has been an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre since 1991. Brent Lee’s compositions range from orchestral music to electroacoustic pieces, and include jazz and incidental music. He has received numerous commissions, largely through the Canada Council, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. In addition to performances and broadcasts in many countries, several of his works have been commercially recorded. His compositions and improvisations often juxtapose acoustic instruments and electroacoustic sound, and reflect his interest in the exploration of musical colours and textures. Current projects include new compositions and arrangements for the Noiseborder Ensemble, a new work for flute and electronics for Chenoa Anderson, and a new work for percussion, electronics, and video for Nicholas Papador, and a work for chamber orchestra and live electronics for the Windsor Symphony.
Shorter bio: Brent Lee is a Canadian musician, scholar and educator. He studied at McGill University and later the University of British Columbia, where he completed his doctoral degree in 1999. His compositions range from orchestral music to electroacoustic pieces, and include jazz and incidental music. He has received awards or commissions from CAPAC, SOCAN, the Canada Council, the Alberta Heritage Fund, The Gaudeamus Foundation (The Netherlands), the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and the Bourges International Electroacoustic Music Competition (France). In addition to performances and broadcasts in many countries, several of his works have been commercially recorded. His compositions and improvisations often explore the relationship between acoustic instruments and digital sound processing; this interest has extended to his work as a performing member of a number of improvising ensembles including gems, Strictly Plutonic, Modus Vivendi, and the Noiseborder Ensemble. In 2002, he accepted a position at the University of Windsor, and served as composer-in-residence with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra from 2003-06. He has been an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre since 1991. (BL, 2010) 2010.02.17 |
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