The work of composer Michael Alcorn has helped to make Belfast a global beacon for innovation in the interface between music and technology, through the creation of the Sonic Arts Research Centre.
Born in Belfast in 1962, Michael Alcorn studied at the University of Ulster (now Ulster University), completing his PhD in Composition at the University of Durham. In 1989 he was appointed composer-in-residence at Queen’s University Belfast and later became head of Music, Film and Drama at the University. Today Alcorn is a Professor of Composition, an Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sustainability and Strategic Projects and the inaugural director of the new Queen’s MediaLab.
As a composer, Alcorn’s catalogue explores a range of experimental approaches that blend new technologies, new sounds and new performing approaches. His music has been performed and broadcast in the UK, Europe, North and South America and the Far East.
SARC
Alcorn has said that his musical thinking is deeply shaped by technology and computers. It was this fascination that led to his bid to secure funding for the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), a state-of-the-art sonic laboratory and research resource that explores the relationship between music, technology, sound and society. Alcorn was the Director from its inception in 2001 until 2015 and oversaw the development of one of the world’s most innovative performing spaces - the Sonic Laboratory described by many artists as a cinema for the ear.
SARC has put Belfast on the map as a leading experimental music facility which attracts visiting artists and scholars from around the world who wish to explore new approaches to immersive and experimental sound making.
Alcorn is now developing a new MediaLab at Queen’s to explore immersive video and the application of game technologies in immersive media as an extension to the work of facilities like SARC.
Chuidigh saothar an chumadóra Michael Alcorn le heiseamláir a dhéanamh de Bhéal Feirste ar fud an domhain don nuálaíocht sa chomhéadan idir ceol agus teicneolaíocht, tríd an Sonic Arts Research Centre a chruthú.
Rugadh Michael Alcorn i mBéal Feirste sa bhliain 1962, rinne sé staidéar ar Ollscoil Uladh, agus rinne sé a PhD in Ollscoil Durham. Sa bhliain 1989, rinneadh cumadóir cónaitheach de in Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste, agus ina dhiaidh sin, bhí sé ina ceannasaí Ceoil, Scannánaíochta agus Drámaíochta san Ollscoil. Sa lá atá inniu ann, is Ollamh le Cumadóireacht é Alcorn, agus tá sé ina Leas-Seansailéar Cúnta Comhlach don Inbhuanaitheacht agus Tionscadail Straitéiseacha, agus is é an chéad stiúrthóir é ar an MediaLab nua in Ollscoil na Banríona.
Mar chumadóir, pléann catalóg Alcorn le réimse de chuir chuige thurgnamhacha a chumascann teicneolaíochtaí nua, fuaimeanna nua agus cuir chuige nua léirithe. Rinneadh a chuid ceoil a sheinm agus a chraoladh sa RA, san Eoraip, i Meiriceá Thuaidh agus Theas agus sa Chianoirthear.
SARC
Tá sé ráite ag Alcorn go bhfuil tionchar nach beag ag an teicneolaíocht agus ríomhairí ar a smaointeoireacht cheoil. An tsuim seo ba chúis leis an iarracht a rinne sé cistiú a fháil don Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), saotharlann shonach úrscothach agus acmhainn taighde a amharcann ar an ghaol idir ceol, teicneolaíocht, fuaim agus an tsochaí. Ba é Alcorn an Stiúrthóir ó bunaíodh é in 2001 go dtí 2015 agus rinne sé maoirseacht ar an fhorbairt ar cheann de na spásanna léirithe is nuálaí ar domhan - cuireann cuid mhór ealaíontóirí síos ar an Sonic Laboratory mar phictiúrlann don chluas.
Chuir SARC ainm Bhéal Feirste in airde mar phríomháis don cheol trialach, a mheallann ealaíontóirí agus scoláirí ó achan chearn den domhan ar mian leo cuir chuige nua a thriail i dtaca le cumadh na fuaime tumthaí agus trialaí.
Tá MediaLab nua á fhórbairt ag Alcorn in Ollscoil na Banríona fá láthair le hamharc ar chur i bhfeidhm na dteicneolaíochtaí tumthacha fá choinne físeán agus cluichí, le tógáil ar an obair a dhéanann áiseanna ar nós SARC.
