Seth Shafer

Biography

Seth Shafer is a composer and researcher whose work lies at the intersection of technology, new media, and art/science, with a specific focus on real-time notation, interactive music, and algorithmic art. Seth's compositions have been performed internationally and across the USA. Recent performances include the 2019 SEAMUS Conference (Boston), 2019 Omaha Under the Radar Festival, Stonewall at 50 at La Mama (NY), and 2019 Open Circuit Festival (Liverpool). Other notable performance include the 2018 International Computer Music Conference (Daegu, South Korea), 2018 Sound and Music Computing Conference (Limassol, Cyprus), 2017 Conference on Technologies for Music Notation and Representation (A Coruña, Spain), the 2016 Sound and Music Computing Conference (Hamburg, GE), 2015 Shanghai Conservatory Electronic Music Week (China), the 2014 International Computer Music Conference (Athens, GR), and the 2013 Festival dei Due Mondi Spoleto (Italy). In addition, his piece Pulsar [Variant II] for trumpet and computer was a finalist for The Engine Room's International Sound Art Exhibition 2015 (London, UK). His sound installations have been shown at Kaneko (Omaha), the Perot Museum of Nature and Science (Dallas), Long Beach Museum of Art’s Pacific Standard Time Exhibit, and the Long Beach Soundwalk.

Seth is Assistant Professor of Music Technology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He holds degrees from the University of North Texas and California State University, Long Beach.

As a performer, Seth has played his own music at Omaha Under the Radar, Electronic Music Midwest, and Electrobrass festivals. He founded and directs an experimental technology-centric ensemble at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and co-founded and co-directed the Los Angeles Laptop Collective. He played tuba in the Golden State Pops Orchestra, in various new music ensembles, and in several commercial bands including a performance on the Grammy-winning Vampire Weekend album Modern Vampires of the City.