Pauline Oliveros

Pauline Oliveros was a pioneering American accordionist and composer who significantly contributed to the development of post-war electronic art music. In the 1960s, she was a founding member of the San Francisco Tape Music Center, a pivotal institution for experimental music. Her academic career included teaching music at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Oliveros authored several books, formulated new music theories, and investigated innovative approaches to musical perception, notably her concepts of "Deep Listening" and "sonic awareness," which encouraged a heightened focus on sound and its environment.In 1991, Oliveros coined the term "Deep Listening," which subsequently became the name of her group, The Deep Listening Band, and the Deep Listening program of Deep Listening Institute, Ltd. This program offers annual listening retreats in various locations, including Europe, New Mexico, and upstate New York. The Deep Listening Band was known for performing and recording in highly resonant spaces such as caves, cathedrals, and large underground cisterns, often collaborating with a diverse range of musicians, dancers, and performers. Oliveros received a Grants to Artists award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts in 1994. Her published works include "Sounding the Margins: Collected Writings 1992-2009," "Initiation Dream," "Software for People," "The Roots of the Moment," and "Deep Listening: A Composer's Sound Practice." She also taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Mills College.