Contents
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Education - Instruction - Employment - Technical Skills
Installation - Solo Works - Collaborative Performance - Discography
Piano Performance - Theater - Publications - Awards - Conferences
Downloadable Versions
Education
Louisiana State University—2021-25
Ph.D. candidate Experimental Music and Digital Media, studio art minor
California Institute of the Arts—2016-18
M.F.A. Experimental Sound Practices and Integrated Media
Loyola University New Orleans—2007-11
B.M. Jazz Studies and Piano Performance
Workshop and Class Instruction
Composition for Electronic Media (APMS 2230)—Spring 2024
Tulane University, New Orleans
Production, composing with technology, experimental music techniques, harmony
Programming Digital Media (CSC 2463)—Spring 2024
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
p5, Tone.js, and Arduino
Co-taught with Dr. Andrew Webb
EMDM Ensemble (MUS 4270)—Fall 2023
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Group improvisation, non-traditional scores, circuit building, and MAX/MSP
Co-taught with Dylan Burchett
Fundamentals of Sound Engineering—Summer 2023
LSU Pre-College Summer Program, Baton Rouge
Senior Project Advisor (MUS 4501)—Spring 2023
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Primary Electroacoustic Lessons (MUS 3153)—2022-23
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Songwriting, production, composing with technology
Focus Rock: Noise guest lecturer (MHST-407, MHST-607)—March 24, 2021
CalArts Herb Alpert School of Music
Discussed and work-shopped non-traditional composition methods and tools
Soundscapes at Home—May 18, 2020
San Marino Music Center, San Marino, CA
Online group class ages 7 and up for learning to play experimental music
Make a Basic Electronic Musical Instrument—Jan. 25, 2020
Pasadena City College Extension Program, Pasadena, CA
Weird Synth Making—Nov. 4, 2018
Hackaday Superconference at Supplyframe, Pasadena, CA
Make Your Own CMOS Square Wave Synth—Aug. 5, 2018
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
A five-hour synth building workshop that went into the details of the 40106 CMOS chip, all components in the circuit, breadboard layout, schematic reading, and circuit board soldering
Teaching Assistant—2016-18
CalArts Herb Alpert School of Music
Tonal Harmony and Keyboard I and II (MTHY-111, MTHY-112)
History of Western Art Music (MHST-205, MHST-206)
Electroacoustic Seminar (MCMP-605)
Nihilism for Noise Musicians (MITM-421, MITM-621)—Jan. 9-20, 2017
CalArts Herb Alpert School of Music
Designed, researched, and taught a two-week winter session course that delved into the various theories of absurdism and nihilism and their relationships to performance art and noise music
Composition and Music Theory Instructor—2016-17
CalArts Community Arts Partnership
Intermediate tonal harmony and multi-genre composition
Private Piano Lessons and Music Theory Classes—2011-16
St. George’s Episcopal School, New Orleans, LA
Loyola University New Orleans Preparatory Arts Program
Other Employment
Graduate Assistant—June 2021-present
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Web development and technical assistant, fabrication lab manager, FOH and stage management for concerts and conferences
Repair Technician—2021
Audio Rehab, Burbank, CA
Repairs for vintage keyboards and studio equipment
ThingMusic Instrument Shop (online only)—Established May 2020
Electroacoustic instruments designed and handmade by Erin Demastes
Arts and Music Administration
Buyer, Perfect Circuit Audio, Burbank, CA—2019-20
Data Coordinator, CalArts Admissions—2018-19
Records and Registration Assistant, CalArts Registrar—2016-18
Technical Assistant—2016-18
CalArts Herb Alpert School of Music
Vintage and Eurorack synth repairs and maintenance, tools and component inventory, software maintenance and troubleshooting
Freelance Jazz Pianist—2005-16
Various venues, New Orleans, LA
Technical Skills
Installation and Fixed Media
Timbral Shifts (8-channel audio)
As part of the Australasian Computer Music Conference
University of New England, Australia—Oct. 9, 2023
Closed Circuit
As part of a group show curated by Liz Lessner and Mat Keel
Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, LA—Feb. 11-March 5, 2023
Interface Design I, II, III, IV
The 4 iterations of Interface Design from 2017 to future installations
Received award for best installation at NIME 2022
On digital display at NIME 2022—June 29-July 1, 2022
C Foam (audio only)
For physical modeling and granular synthesis in Csound
Cinema for the Ears, LSU DMC Theater—Sept. 23, 2022
New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival—June 21, 2022
Sound Shadows
A piece for sound objects on plexiglass filmed from below
A re-imagining of the Soundpedro 2020 in-person art show sponsored by Angeles Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
On digital display at soundpedro.org—June 6-30, 2020
Slinkyscope
As part of the Hacked Found Repurposed Vol. 3 group show curated by Bryan Day and Kirk Pearson
Center for New Music, San Francisco, CA—Feb. 2-28, 2020
Scavenging Sound
A collaboration with Ethan Marks. A short half mile hike in the San Gabriel Mountains, this scavenger hunt consisted of 13 clues that led participants to different locations on the trail to observe various sounds that were planted.
The Dogstar Orchestra 15 festival, Millard Falls, Angeles Forest, CA—June 8, 2019
Cone & Slinkies
Two interactive sound pieces, Cone consists of a plastic lighting cone, a cell phone buzzer, a distance sensor, and an Arduino. Slinkies consists of two amplified metal slinkies on a coat rack.
CalArts staff group show D300 Gallery—Sept. 17-21, 2018
Interface Design II
Ten exposed circuits made with light resistors like Interface Design I, exposed wire and piping for the floor and window display, and videos taken with a microscope camera of various industrial materials. This residency also featured a synth-building workshop and a night of curated performances.
Residency at Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—Aug. 1-10, 2018
Intermittency
Seven homemade electromagnets attached to lamps and routed through a mixer and speakers
CalArts Center for Integrated Media—March 20-23, 2018
Games
An M.F.A. group show featuring games and scores
CalArts Wavecave—March 12-16, 2018
Interface Design
Ten exposed circuits made with light resistors that allow them to be played with flashlights
CalArts Wavecave—Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2017
Solo Performance and Composition
Boxes, Bells, & Bird Calls
For handmade instruments, desk bells, bird caller, and toys
As part of a pre-SEAMUS conference concert
Yes We Cannibal, Baton Rouge—April 4, 2024
Sample & Hold
For record players, karaoke mic, tuning forks, radio, dog training buttons, and small instruments
Yes We Cannibal, Baton Rouge—Jan. 4, 2024
LNML Lit Winter Fest at The Domino, New Orleans—Dec. 16, 2023
Bells & Whistles
For bells, toy piano, melodica, pitch pipes, and other noise makers
HopKins Black Box Theater at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—June 23, 2023
As part of the Experimental Music Night curated by Erin Demastes
Zeitgeist Theater, New Orleans—June 22, 2023
As part of the Experimental Music Night curated by Erin Demastes
LMNL Lit Summer Fest at Zeitgeist Theater, New Orleans—June 18, 2023
Box
For handmade box with speakers, motors, and metal structures
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Jan. 27, 2024
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—May 1, 2023
Stirrers
For 3 latte stirrers, 2 magnetic stirrers, and 1 soup stirrer
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Nov. 28, 2022
University of South Carolina, Columbia—Nov. 11, 2022
Cups & Tubes
For wooden discs, pop-tops, Solo cups, magnetic stirrers, and other materials
East Village Arts, Birmingham, AL—July 1, 2022
Yes We Cannibal, Baton Rouge, LA—June 17, 2022
Perpetual Motion
For handmade automatic instruments, handmade amplifiers, and speaker cones
High Zero Foundation Livestream, Baltimore, MD—Feb 24, 2022
Hartley / Vey Theater, Baton Rouge, LA—Feb. 12, 2022
Yes We Cannibal, Baton Rouge, LA—Oct. 24, 2021
Connections
For metal acoustic instruments that become electronic
Canessa Gallery, San Francisco, CA—June 26, 2021
Thing Music
For record player, bells, automatic stirrer, plastic balls, and other materials
Yes We Cannibal, Baton Rouge, LA—Feb. 25, 2022
Pan Y Rosa Discos, Chicago Twitch livestream—April 11, 2021
Microsound
For microscope camera, contact mics, and materials
Indexical’s Twitch livestream, Santa Cruz, CA—April 18, 2020
Rec Center, Los Angeles, CA—Aug. 22, 2018
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—Aug. 5, 2018
CalArts ESP Night—April 17, 2018
What Is It?
For materials hidden behind a project board
Betalevel, Los Angeles, CA—Nov. 15, 2019
Thymele Arts, Los Angeles, CA—Oct. 27, 2019
Computer Music
For computer speaker feedback and resonant materials
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—March 15, 2019
Sponsored by the wulf.
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—Feb. 19, 2019
As part of the Open Source music series
I Leave My Seat
For poem, Mac Terminal, and plastic wrap
As part of the CalArts Center for Integrated Media Project Scream
Navel LA, Los Angeles, CA—Jan. 26, 2019
Cone Suite
For amplified cone and materials
CalArts—Jan. 29, 2018
Solo for Two Slinkies
For amplified metal slinkies on a coat rack
CalArts—Jan. 29, 2018
Bells
For cell phone buzzers, containers, and bells
CalArts ESP Night—Nov. 14, 2017
Microphone II
For amplified slinkies, PVC, and iPhone feedback
Sponsored by the wulf.
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—Aug. 18, 2017
Microphone
For iPhone feedback and containers
CalArts ESP Night—April 25, 2017
Intermittency
For fizz, drill, no-input mixer, aux cable, bottle, and fan
As part of the California Electronic Music Exchange Concerts (CEMEC) at:
UC Santa Cruz—April 23, 2017
Mills College, Oakland, CA—April 22, 2017
CalArts—April 4, 2017
Collaborative Performance
Improvised duo with Dylan Burchett
Midcity Ballroom, Baton Rouge—Feb. 27, 2024
Yes We Cannibal, Baton Rouge—Feb. 20, 2024
Happyland Theater, New Orleans—Oct. 21, 2023
Highland Road Park Observatory, Baton Rouge—Sept. 1, 2023
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, Denton, TX—Aug. 16, 2023
HopKins Black Box Theater, LSU—July 15, 2023
Quartet for Pitch Pipes
For four performers and four pitch pipes composed by Erin Demastes
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Nov. 27, 2023
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—Sept. 13, 2019
As part of Weird Winds Night sponsored by the wulf. and curated by Erin Demastes
EMDM Ensemble Concert (MUS 4270)
Works by John Cage, Pauline Oliveros, James Tenney, Christian Wolff, and more
Directed by Dylan Burchett and Erin Demastes
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Nov. 1, 2023
Computer Music II
For two people, computer speaker feedback, and objects composed by Erin Demastes
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Feb. 24, 2023
Rice University, Houston, TX—Nov. 5, 2022
How To
Commissioned work for objects and ensemble composed by Erin Demastes
For the Experimental Music Workshop directed by Greg Stuart
University of South Carolina, Columbia—Nov. 11, 2022
Error Chirp
For 8 people, 8 Macs, and Mac “purr” error sound composed by Erin Demastes
Performed by the LSU Laptop Orchestra
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Oct. 31, 2022
From the Untroubled Mind
For laptop orchestra, Mac terminal, and text by Agnes Martin composed by Erin Demastes
Performed by the LSU Laptop Orchestra
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Oct. 31, 2022
Click Map
For mouse-controlled Max/MSP patch composed by Erin Demastes
Performed by the LSU Laptop Orchestra
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge—Nov. 1, 2021
Leviathan
Solo performance video piece for Music for Your Inbox
Composed by Tim Feeney and videography and stage management by Middle Ear Project
Human Resources, Los Angeles, CA—June 20, 2021
SpaceSearch
A duo with Cassiopeia Sturm
Battery Books and Music, Pasadena, CA—Feb. 28, 2020
Coaxial Arts Foundation, Los Angeles, CA—April 12, 2019
CalArts Digital Arts Expo—May 4, 2017
CalArts ESP Night—Dec. 6, 2016
Duet for Magnetic Stirrers
For two performers, two magnetic stirrers, water, beads, and other materials composed by Erin Demastes
CalArts—Jan. 29, 2018
Splat Music
For dropping materials into an amplified tin bucket composed by Erin Demastes
CalArts—Jan. 29, 2018
Resonance
For 12 tuning forks, 6 resonant objects, and 6 performers composed by Erin Demastes
CalArts—Jan. 29, 2018
Coaxial Arts Foundation—Jan. 22, 2018
For the Music for Tuning Forks festival, Los Angeles, CA
The Dogstar Orchestra 13 with the Reader’s Chorus and Dogstar Orchestra
Works by Pauline Oliveros, James Tenney, and others including an arrangement of Agnes Martin writings by Erin Demastes
Human Resources, Los Angeles, CA—June 17, 2017
Women’s Center for Creative Works, Los Angeles, CA—June 11, 2017
Santa Monica Public Library—June 7, 2017
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA—June 3, 2017
Faculty Lounge
An improvisation collective with Iris Sidikman, Josh Westerman, Cassiopeia Sturm, and Ethan Marks that mixes unconventional and DIY sound makers, acoustic instruments, live coding, and feedback.
Art Share LA, Los Angeles, CA—April 21, 2018
CalArts Digital Arts Expo—May 4, 2017
Pasadena Conservatory of Music, Pasadena, CA—April 7, 2017
CalArts ESP Night—Feb. 21, 2017
Verbs
Text score for people, pencils, objects, and space composed by Erin Demastes
As part of the OK Composer concert series
CalArts Wild Beast Theater—March 12, 2017
Regular Performances in New Orleans, 2005-16
Solo jazz piano at Ralph’s on the Park
Solo jazz piano lecture performances at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Erin Demastes trio at Maison Frenchmen
Erin Demastes trio at New Orleans Museum of Art
Erin Demastes quartet at Three Muses
Erin Demastes quartet at Bacchanal Wine Bar
The National WWII Museum
Merged Music, an experimental music series curated by Articulated Works
Open Ears, a series for new and experimental music of all genres
Instant Opus, a series curated for free improvisation
Progressions, a series for experimental rock, pop, and electronic music
Selected Discography
Keys & Bells—2024
For small instruments in resonant spaces
Released on Sawyer Spaces both digitally and on CD
Thing Music—2021
Compositions with household items and tools arranged by color
Released on Public Eyesore SF both digitally and on tape
2 Gray Foxes—2020
Compositions written from 2007 to 2010 for jazz trio and quartet reimagined with synths
What Is It?—2019
A weekly project of field recordings and materials experiments turned into short pieces
Cat Dreams—2016
Original solo synth pop songs
Planet Earth—2015
A multi-genre trio where each member contributed compositions
Composition for Theater
Thieves Playing Pool—Spring 2017
A play by Timothy Adams
Directed by Christopher Givens
A Mary Majak’s production, New Orleans, LA
Rope—April 2016
A play by Milena Martinovic
As part of Five Times: A Showcase of One-Acts
A Lowling Company and Mary Majak’s production, New Orleans, LA
Publications
Verbs and Leave a Sound Wherever You Go—Aug. 2024
Two text scores published in A Year of Deep Listening: 365 Text Scores for Pauline Oliveros on MIT Press
Interface Design—June 2022
For the NIME 2022 conference
Composing with Words: Form, Performance, and Meaning—March 2019
Published in issue 6 of Soap Ear, an online quarterly music and sound art review
Awards and Honors
Guest speaker for the CalArts Center for Integrated Media—April 2024
Second place in the first annual LSU Libraries graphic score competition—Feb. 2024
Artist-in-residence at University of South Carolina—Nov. 2022
Best Installation Award at NIME 2022—Summer 2022
Member of the Dogstar Experimental Music Festival board—2019-present
CODE Digital Art Research Residency—Fall 2019
Coaxial Arts Foundation Residency—Aug. 2018
The Jory Prum Scholarship for Sounds that Redefine Normal, CalArts—2017-18
Conferences
LaTex 2024, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Performed Box for handmade kinetic speaker box
Australasian Computer Music Conference 2023, University of New England, Australia
Presented Timbral Shifts 8-channel composition in Csound
LaTex 2022, Rice University, Houston, TX
Performed Computer Music II composition for DAW feedback and objects
NIME 2022, University of Auckland, NZ
Presented Interface Design installation and paper
New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival 2022
Presented C Foam fixed media composition in Csound
Louisiana STEM Summit 2022, Baton Rouge, LA
Co-presented “STEM Empowered Students and Agency in the Digital World”
Dr. Jesse Allison, Matthew Bardin, Treya Nash, Scott Nelson, and William Thompson
Hackaday Superconference 2018, Pasadena, CA
Taught Weird Synth Making workshop