Michael Edward Edgerton received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994. Since then, he has had international success as a composer, performer, researcher, and theorist. In total, his activities encompass an interdisciplinary approach involving the disciplines of music composition, systematic musicology, music theory, music performance, acoustics, voice science and perception.
Michael's compositional activities are centred on dynamical generative processes that exist at the junctions where systems of complexity meet acoustical exploration. Theoretically this approach utilizes principles adapted from his study of nonlinear dynamics, scale-free networks, acoustics and perception. This information is often utilized in compositional settings that feature decoupled and scaled multidimensional phase spaces which attempt to heighten the inherent nonlinearities of instruments and voices.
Michael's catalogue lists over 70 compositions, which have been performed in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. These compositions have received numerous prizes and recognition.
Michael is actively engaged in research that utilizes the tools of acoustics, perception and nonlinear dynamics and may be classified as follows: a) acoustical and physiologic study of (extra-normal) vocal production; b) research focused on decoupled and scaled multidimensional phase spaces; c) study of nonlinear dynamics applied to sound production and musical composition, and; d) perception. The results of these activities have led to publications in the journals Organized Sound, Perspectives of New Music, Journal of Voice, Contemporary Music Review (forthcoming), Complexity Digest and Scientific American, among others, as well as a book (The 21st Century Voice, the newest addition in the New Instrumentation Series, Scarecrow Press, Lanham: MD, 2005).
Web: http://edgertonmichael.tripod.com/id39.html