Tom Mays

Alumn
BA, San Jose State University, 1990 (Music Composition/Electro-Acoustics)

Contact: http://www.tommays.net

Born and raised in California, educated in electronics technologies and then later in music (BA in music composition / electro-acoustics from SJSU in 1990 with Allen Strange and Randy Masters). He has since lived overseas (mostly in Paris). While ever so slowly building a career as a composer (with computers as his primary instrument), he has otherwise : co-founded Studio CESARE in Reims, France and maintained the studio, worked several years at IRCAM as Assistant Musical specializing in real-time applications, taught seven summers of computer music with the California State Summer School for the Arts, taught electonic music to High School, Junior High School and adult groups in Reims, worked on 2 different 6-month socio-artistic projects in Epernay-France, gave master classes and workshops on real-time applications in the Ionian University in Corfou and the computer music studio IEMA in Athens...

As a composer, some projects of note include : selection for commission and CD of radiophonic music by the SACEM and Radio France with La Muse En Circuit in 1993 (Walking Out of Time), commission from the French Ministry of Culture and realisation (composition, artistic direction) of a 50 minute music/performance work with real-time computer, Greek instruments and voice in 1999 with second performance in the MANCA festival 2000 in Nice (Le temps dÕun Žclair, studios CIRM and CESARE), commission for an octaphonic tape work for planetarium (LÕinstant, studio CESARE), concerts in Athens-Greece for live computer and improvised saxophone and percussion, various soundtracks for experimental short films (such as Au Coin in 1996), music for dance (Stages in 1994, Ulm-Germany), music for installation (Stadthaus in 1993, Ulm-Germany; Yoyage in 1992, Epernay-France), live electronic music for theatre (‚a in 1993, Paris), among others.

Links to some of the places mentioned above :
Studio CESARE, http://www.macao-mus.com/Cesare/index.html
Studio CIRM and Festival MANCA, http://www.cirm-manca.org
IRCAM, http://www.ircam.fr
California State Summer School for the Arts, http://www.csssa.org
SACEM, http://www.sacem.fr
Radio France, http://www.radio-france.fr
Stadthaus - Ulm, http://www.stadthaus.ulm.de

Performances

LÕinstant - tape piece for planetarium. Commissioned by Studio CESARE (2000)

• Planetarium of Reims, France - 24-29 Oct 2000
  
  Destination Out - concert of improvised music for saxophones (Joe Tornabene and Dimos Dimitriadis), percussions and real-time processing instrument (2000)
  
• Mikro Mousiko Theatro, Athens, Greece - 26 & 27 May 2000
  
  Improvisation #3 - for improvised saxophones (Joe tornabene) and real-time processing instrument (1999)
  
• Theater FOURNOS, Athens, Greece - 23 & 24 Oct. 1999
  
  E minor sharp seven flat eleven over C - pour improvised flute and tape (1999)
  
• Theater FOURNOS, Athens, Greece - 23 & 24 Oct. 1999
  
  Le Temps d'un ƒclair - music/performance work for traditional Greek instruments, voice and live computer processing. Commissioned by French Ministry of Culture and studio CIRM, produced by the studios CIRM and CESARE (1999)
  
• Petite Scene du CNAT, Reims - 28 & 29 May 1999
  
• Festival MANCA, Nice - 14 Nov 2000
  
  Improvisation #2 - for traditional Greek instruments and live computer processing (1998)
  
• Ionian University of Corfou for the "1st Annual Symposium on Music and Computers" - Oct 1998
  
  Mystis - Etude 1 - for percussion, live electronics and tape (1997)
  
• CyberSound Performance, "Galerie du 5 et 7 rue du Roule" - May 10, 1997
  
  Au Coin - music and sound design for short videofilm by Pascal Josse (1996)
  
• Cannes Film Festival (1996)
  
• Festival MANCA, Nice - Nov. 1996
  
• International Computer Music Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece - 29 Sept 97
  
  Comme des Fourmis - tape music for pre-existing documentary (1995)
  
• Festival "Sous le Tropique de Capricorne" at Espace Acteur, Paris - Feb 1995
  
  Improvisation #1 - improvisational trio with Gaylord Mowreyand Mark Grey for prepared piano and live electronics (1994)
  
• California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California - Aug 1994
  
  Mille Couloirs - music and sounds for short videofilm by Frederic Voulizey. Commissioned by the Club de Prevention, Epernay, France (1994)
  
• Public viewing, Epernay, France - June 1994
  
  Stages - music for choreography, Arrazzo Tanztheater company, Choreography by Gabrielle Staiger (1994)
  
• Roxy Hall, Ulm, Germany - from 12 Jan 1994 (about 10 performances)
  
  Stadthaus - live and taped computer music installation for the opening ceremonies of the Richard Meier Stadthaus (with Juan Carlos Gentille). Commissioned by the Stadthaus in Ulm (1993)
  
• Stadthaus - Ulm, Germany - Nov 1993
  
  Walking Out of Time - radiophonic tape piece (1993)
  
• Aired on France Culture - 15 Jan. 94
  
• Aired on WDR-Cologne - 11-12 Oct. 94
  
• Aired on RNE, Ars Sonora/Madrid - Dec. 94
  
• CD issued by Radio France, SACEM and La Muse En Circuit (Paris)
  
  ‚a - live electronics and tape music for theater (with Juan Carlos Gentille). Commissioned by La Baignoire company, Paris (1993)
  
• Espace Saint Sabin, Paris - 14-28 June 93
  
• MJC in Palaiseau, France - 15-17 Oct. 93
  
  Vague ˆ l'‰me - music and sound design for short videofilm by Mireille Jacquesson. Commissioned by the city of Epernay.
  
• Public viewing, Epernay, France - May 1993 Tapps - music for live computer. Realized from recordings of two tap dansers.
  
• California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California - July 1992
  
  Voyage - music for a photo exhibition by Laurence Bastin. Commissioned by the Club de Prevention, Epernay, France
  
• Theatre of Epernay, installation during several days - June 1992
  
• Tour of the exhibition in Poland - July 1992
  
  Elle est grosse la baleine- music for tape (with Christian Sebille). Based on music workshops with elementary school children in village of St. Lupien, France (1992)
  
• Installation at school of St. Lupien - May 1992
  
  L'Homme et la montagne- sound design and effects for short film. Commissioned by the Reims Mountains Regional Natural Park (1992)
  
• Public installation at the information center of the park - April 1992
  
  Mais j'etais moche - radiophonic tape piece (1991)
  
• Aired on Radio Libertaire, Paris - Nov 1991
  
  Windows of Audibility - for cello and live electronics (1990)
  
• San Jose State University - Apr. 1990
  
  Wish I Knew - for flute, 3 voices and live electronics (1990)
  
• San Jose State University - Apr. 1990
  
  Saturday/Sunday/Monday - for dance and live electronics (1990)
  
• San Jose State University - Apr. 1990
  
  Planetsdance - for dance and live electronics (1989)
  
• San Jose State University - May 1989
  
  Cruel Shoes - for imagined choreography and live electronics (1989)
  
• San Jose State University - May 1989

Awards

• 1993 - Hšrspiel First Competition for Radiophonic Music, La Muse En Circuit, SACEM, Radio France
  

• 1999 - French Ministry of Culture "Commande dÕetat" for Le temps dÕun eclair

Recordings

• CD Hšrspiel - Jeux pour lÕoreil, 1993 radio France, SACEM (Not for sale)