Composition Faculty & Staff

Joseph Klein

Professor of Composition and Chair of the Division of Composition Studies. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (BA, 1984); University of California, San Diego (MA, 1986); Indiana University (DM, 1991). Composition studies with Roger Reynolds, Robert Erickson, Harvey Sollberger, and Claude Baker. Interests in intermedia composition, musical process, and fractal aesthetics.

Courses taught: Beginning/Class Composition, The Music of Frank Zappa

David Bithell

Assistant Professor of Composition. University of California, San Diego (BA, 1999); University of California, Berkeley (MA, 2001; PhD, 2004). Composition and computer music studies with Edmund Campion, David Wessel, Roger Reynolds, Brian Ferneyhough, and Cindy Cox; contemporary trumpet performance studies with Edwin Harkins. Interests in intermedia, experimental music theater, improvisation, and creative transcription.

Courses taught: Intermedia Performance Arts, Graduate Composition Seminar, Topics in Contemporary Music ("Mixing/Remixing: Transcription, Quotation, and the Art of Musical Re-Use”), Topics in Electroacoustic Music ("Physical Computing: Input and Output Systems for Experimental Music and Intermedia").

Andrew May

Associate Professor of Composition and Director of CEMI. Yale University (BA, 1990); California Institute of the Arts (MFA 1994); University of California, San Diego (PhD, 2000). Composition and computer music studies with Roger Reynolds, Miller Puckette, Mel Powell, and Jonathan Berger. Interests in chamber music with live interactive computer systems, statistical models of musical behavior, and extended notations and improvisation; also an active violinist.

Courses taught: History and Techniques of Electroacoustic Music, Topics in Electroacoustic Music ("Interactive Composition"), Topics in Contemporary Music ("The Music of György Ligeti").

Elizabeth McNutt

Lecturer of Composition and Director of Nova Ensemble. St. Louis Conservatory (BM, 1990); University of California, San Diego (MA, 1994; DMA, 2000). Flute studies with Harvey Sollberger, John Fonville, and Jacob Berg; computer music studies with Miller Puckette. Specialization in performance of experimental and virtuosic new repertoire, including computer music; collaboration in development of new works.

Courses taught: Nova Ensemble, Contemporary Music, Contemporary Performance Practices.

Cindy McTee

Regents Professor of Composition. Pacific Lutheran University (BM,1975); Yale University (MM, 1978); University of Iowa (PhD, 1981). Composition studies with Krzysztof Penderecki, Jacob Druckman, Bruce MacCombie, and Richard Hervig. Recent work reflects interests in psychology, literature, and aesthetics.

Courses taught: Orchestration, Undergraduate Composition Seminar, Topics in Contemporary Music ("Time and Music: Problems in Contemporary Notation").

Jon Christopher Nelson

Professor of Composition and Associate Dean of the College of Music. Bethel College (BA, 1982); Brandeis University (MFA, 1988; PhD, 1991). Composition studies with Allen Anderson, Arthur Berger, Martin Boykan, and Charles Dodge. Extensive experience in electroacoustic and acoustic music with specializations in software synthesis, digital signal processing, and set-theoretical compositional strategies.

Courses taught: Topics in Electroacoustic Music ("Composing for Loudspeakers"), Topics in Contemporary Music ("Structural Multiplicities").

Phil Winsor

Professor of Composition. Illinois Wesleyan University (BM, 1960); San Francisco State University (MA, 1964). Composition studies with Will Ogden, Robert Erickson, Sal Martirano, and Luigi Nono. Interests in algorithmic composition, video, and intermedia.

Administrative Assistant:

Teaching Fellows and Teaching Assistants: