Charles
Ross C.V.
Born 1965
British
composer, resident in the East of Iceland since 1986.
Studied
B.A. (later M.phil) in Dartington - learnt composition and
ethnomusicology with Frank Denyer and composition briefly with Morton
Feldman.
Has
had works performed in Britain, Iceland, The United States, Germany
and Israel.
Involved
in Icelandic experimental music scene: composition, improv, folk and
contemporary performance - taught world music in the Icelandic
Academy of Arts – “artist-in-residence” Egilsstadir 2007-2008 -
hosted “Eidar Sonic Arts Project” involving international
contemporary musicians in collaborative series of thematically-linked
concerts. Musical director of the contempory music ensemble “Stelkur”
With
the band “Stelkur”, has performed in Myrkir músíkdagar
Reykjavík and Glasgow. Has lectured in Listaháskoli Ísland,
University of Glasgow and Dartington College of Arts.Taught world
music course at the Icelandic Academy of Arts (LHÍ) for three years,
taught and directed Contemporary Music ensemble of University of
Glasgow who performed in the University of Glasgow and Glasgow City
Halls. Has performed as an improviser with Fred
Frith, Katherine Wren, Steven O´Malley and with Ilan Volkov´s improv band, “Mines”,
also with Glasgow based improv ensembles “With Lumps” and the
“Glasgow Improviser‘s Orchestra”.
Has
been an active participant in three “Tectonics” New music
festivals in Reykjavik, Köln, Tel-Aviv
and
Glasgow as a Composer,
performer, director
and American experimental music expert. Has also directed, performed
and composed for several plays performed by dramatic groups in the
East of Iceland.
Currently
holds a Ph.D in music composition from University of Glasgow. Has had
works performed by members of the Icelandic Symphony orchestra and
the BBC Scottish orchestra. Works have been broadcasted on RUV and
BBC radio 3. Charles is a member of the Association of Icelandic
Composers.
Post
doctoral reseach includes “Art-Brut”- fictional pastiche as
modern composition and developing performance- composition as an art
form.
Secondary
Education
B.A.
Hons, Music. (2,i).
July 1986. Dartington College of Arts.
Advanced
Certificate: Viola. March
2000. Associated Board.
M.Phil,
Music. “Non-Linear Music: Impressions of Chaos” July
2006. Plymouth University.
Multidisciplinary
research into environmental complexity and it´s possible
significance in the music of several animistic cultures. The M.Phil
was presented both as a written thesis and as a paradigm of
investigative musical compositions.
PhD
in music (Composition). “ “...And Being Guided, So To Speak.”
Externalising the internal musical dialogue.” January
2014.
University
of Glasgow
a
composition-based research into the nature of the internal musical
dialogue, investigating compositional methods of externalisation
which touched on areas of real-time and accelerated composition,
stigmergy and relationships between intuitive and deliberative
thought processes within a compositional context.
Work,
selective performances and Lectures in Arts and Secondary Education
learning about various carnival traditions of Europe. Available here:
and released as a CD/DVD. Review on sound projector: http://www.thesoundprojector.com/2019/08/31/embracing-
2015-16
Performance Therapy
sessions with special-needs students from County Cork, Ireland and
East of Iceland,
involving
improvisation and composition.
2015
Series of
portrait concerts organised by the Icelandic Composers’ Guild.
Concerts in Reykjavík and the East of Iceland.
2014
Work “His
Master´s Voice” performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Broadcast on “Hear and Now”
program
on BBC Radio 3
2014
Curated “Eiðar
Composer´s Farm” bringing together experimental composers from
Iceland for a residential
week
in the East of Iceland, (workshops, seminars, concerts)
2013
Concert tour of
Russia and Yakutia performing with Yakutian singer Kjuregej.
Concert in Moscow
televised and
broadcast
on the Russian Arts Channel “Russia-K” (Россия
Культура)
2013
Work “The
Ventriloquist” performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Broadcast on “Hear and Now”
program
on BBC Radio 3
2013
Employed as
the Christian Wolff "Expert" in Reykjavik "Tectonics"
festival. Organised and performed in
works
by Christian Wolff.
2012
Gave lecture
“Comprov: Radicalising the role of intuition in Modern Composition”
At the University of
Glasgow
As part of the “RMA Colloquium Series in Music”
2012
Organised and
performed “Burdocks” by Christian Wolff with members of “SLÁTUR”
As part of the
“Tectonics”
festival in Reykjavik.
2011-12
Employed
part-time as a lecturer at the University of Glasgow primarily
teaching running and
assessing
the university‘s contemporary music ensemble.
2010
Member
of the selection panel for the “Society of Young Nordic Composers”.
2010
Gave lecture
“The Headless Composer” At the University of Glasgow As part of
the“RMA
Colloquium
Series
in Music”.
2010
Gave lecture
on music and Post graduate Arts-based research at the Icelandic
Academy of Arts, Reykjavik.
2008
Lecture given
on film music with accompanying “Soundtrack” installation as Part
of the
“Reindeer
700” video arts festival.
2007-08
Flótsdalshérað, “
County Artist in Residence” (Iceland).
2007
Lecture given
to “Society of Young Nordic Composers” Reykjavik
2005/07
Curator of the Eiðar
Sonic Arts Project, involving international experimental Composers
and improvisers (Iceland)
2003-07
Taught World music
modules at the Icelandic Academy of Arts, Reykjavik.
2000
Ran the African Highlife band in Dartington College of Arts.