Biography

James O’Callaghan is a composer and sound artist based in Montréal. His music intersects acoustic and electroacoustic media, employing field recordings, amplified found objects, computer-assisted transcription of environmental sounds, and unique performance conditions.

He has received commissions from the Groupe de Recherches Musicales and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, among others. He has been awarded the Robert Fleming Prize (2015), first prizes of the Salvatore Martirano Award (2016), SOCAN Foundation (2013, 2014), the Jeu de temps – Times Play Awards (2013) and Musicworks’ electronic composition competition (2014), and nominations in the KLANG! Acousmonium competition (2015), for a JUNO award for classical composition of the year (2014), and for the Gaudeamus Award (2016).

He received a Master of Music degree from McGill University in 2014, studying with Philippe Leroux, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Simon Fraser University in 2011, studying with Barry Truax.

Composer website:  http://www.jamesocallaghan.com/

Featured Works

Isomorphic, an acousmatic piece.

Isomorphic is part of a triptych of works in different media with the same form, using as material the same environmental sounds (the others are Isomorph for orchestra, and Isomorphia for orchestra and electronics). In this acousmatic piece, sound sources continually transform according to metaphorical and morphological comparisons.

Featured in Canadian Waves (Special Edition June 2016)