Matthew Burtner

Matthew Burtner (http://www.matthewburtner.com) is Eleanor Shea Professor of Music, Composition and Computer Technologies (CCT) in UVA's College of Arts and Sciences. He teaches courses in ecoacoustics, technosonics, sound and sustainability, computer music, and composition in the Music and Environmental Thought and Practice (ETP) departments. 

An Alaskan-born composer, sound artist and ecoacoustician, Matthew's research explores embodiment, ecology, polytemporality, and noise. His work has been exhibited and performed worldwide and featured by organizations such as NASA, PBS NewsHour, the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the BBC, the U.S. State Department, and National Geographic. His music has won prizes such as the IDEA Award for the climate-change opera Auksalaq, an Australian IMPACT Award for THAW with Legs on the Wall, an EMMY Award for Composing Music with Snow and Glaciers with Alaska Public Media, and an NEA Art Works Award for The Ceiling Floats Away with poet Rita Dove. 

As the Curatorial Director of the CSC Conservatory (CSC 4B) Matthew develops technology and immersive sound and light installations for the Conservatory (CSC 4B), a room he envisions as a powerful instrument for advancing contemplative and creative relationships for the community and its relationship with the environment. He is also the founder of EcoSono (www.ecosono.org), an international organization for ecoacoustics, and co-founder of the Coastal Conservatory (http://www.coastalconservatory.org) with UVA colleagues in Religious Studies and Environmental Science.