My compositional practice is concerned with using timbral qualities and abstract associations of acoustic instruments and sampled sounds to produce expressive music.
After majoring in instrumental and electronic music composition at La Trobe University, I completed my Bachelor of Music with Honours at Elder Conservatorium of Music, followed by a Master of Creative Arts (Research) from the University of Wollongong. I also hold degrees in economics and mathematics.
My PhD awarded by the Australian National University describes Fuzzy IDEAS (Fuzzy Inclusive Dialectical Expression Analysis System) the first practical application of fuzzy logic to enable the subjective experience of listening to be visually documented for use to analyse all genres of Western art music.
I was awarded the 2009 Fellowship of Australian Composers Postgraduate Composition Prize for my electro-acoustic piece “the sea leaves ear-shells…”. This music for chamber ensemble includes a backing track composed from field recordings on a Sunday walk on the beach.
Other professional achievements include music for individual installations, soundscapes to accompany art exhibitions, publication of my music by Redhouse Press and Publications by Wirripang, and the broadcast on ABC Classic FM of my piano trio Carlin following its performance at Parliament House, Victoria in 2003. Carlin was the winner of the inaugural Adelaide Piano Trio Competition in 2002. This and other music is available on CDs of Australian flute music, Australian chamber music, and Australian computer music.
As a community musician, I have been Musical Director of POW Circus, Melbourne, and composer in residence at the Jika Jika Community Centre, Melbourne, and regular workshop presenter at the Darebin Music Feast and other music festivals, where participants played my music specially composed for the Federation Bells.
My music has been performed in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, regional Australia and the USA, in a wide variety of settings from art galleries, dedicated concert spaces, to cafes and outdoor performances.
I compose and present my computer music using the professional name: Ceridwen Suiter.