Michael James Olson
Composer/Media Artist
m@michaeljamesolson.com
www.michaeljamesolson.com
Education:
Doctor of Arts (D.A.), Music Theory/Composition
Ball State University, Muncie, IN 2010–Present
• Composition studies with Michael Pounds and Keith Kothman.
• Concentration: composition, music technologies, intermedia art.
Master of Music (M.M.), Music Technology
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 2008–2010
• Composition studies with John Thompson.
• Concentration: music technologies, computer programming, intermedia art.
• Master’s project: The Development of GrainSynth and its Use in the Composition of Telsonic.
Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Music Industry
Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN 1999–2004
• Composition studies with Henry Gwiazda.
• Concentrations: recording arts, composition, jazz studies.
• Graduated Cum Laude.
Teaching:
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Ball State University, 2010–Present
• Instructor for MUMET 140 (Computer Music I).
• Instructor for MUMET 350 (Individual and Group Electronic Composition Lessons).
• Instructor for MUMET 491 (Independent Study in Music Technology).
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Georgia Southern University, 2009–2010
• Instructor for MUSC 1515A, B, and C (Introduction to Technology in Music).
• Assistant for MUSC 5530 (Digital Audio Montage).
Graduate Assistant, Georgia Southern University, 2008–2009
• Teaching assistant responsibilities for introductory music technology classes.
• Supervisor for all Department of Music live recordings.
• Supervisor of Recording Studio, Composition Studio, CD Production lab, and Technology classroom.
Awards and Honors:
2011: ASPiRE Grant to attend SEAMUS National Conference, University of Miami.
2010: ASCAPlus Award.
2010: Ball State University Music Technology Graduate Assistantship.
2010: Travel award to attend New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, New York.
2009: Travel award to attend the Electroacoustic Juke Joint, Cleveland, MS.
2009: First Place, Graduate Research Symposium, Georgia Southern University.
2009: ASCAPlus Award.
2008: Georgia Southern University Music Technology Graduate Assistantship.
2008: ASCAPlus Award.
2004: Inducted into Phi Kappa Lambda.
2003: Travel award to attend Audio Engineering Society Conference, New York, NY.
2001: Minnesota State University, Moorhead Audio Production Scholarship.
1999: Minnesota State University, Moorhead Music Department Scholarship.
Works:
2011: Shattered and Scattered (for Alto Saxophone and electronics). 7’. In progress.
2011: Textures II (for clarinet, percussion, and fixed media). in progress.
2011: [In] Pieces | Slivers (for video and fixed media). 4′ 11”
2010: Water Landing (for video and fixed media) 1’.
2010: Velour (for tenor saxophone, video and fixed media). 5’22”
2010: Textures I (for amplified string quartet and video). 5’
2010: Telsonic (for video and fixed media). 5′
2009: Murmurs (for piano, video, and fixed media). 4’ 15”
2009: Against Silhouettes (for stereo fixed media). 1’
2009: Driftwood (for alto saxophone and fixed media). 6’ 10″
2009: Walking Quickly Closer (for stereo fixed media). 4’08”
2009: Still Standing Still (for bass and electronics). 4’30”
2009: Photo Booth, No. 1 (for video and fixed media). 4’30’’
2009: Waterstate (for video and fixed media ). 10’04’’
2008: Silent Echoes (for 5–channel fixed media). 6’02’’
2008: Mapambuzko (for stereo fixed media). 4’48’’
2007: Icy Winter Cold (for stereo fixed media). 3’42’’
2007: Skylight (for string quartet). 6’22’’
2006: The Quiet Stillness (for SATB chorus). 4’
Performances:
2011: “Driftwood” featured at the SEAMUS National Conference, Frost School of Music, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
2011: “Velour” featured at the International Saxophone Symposium, George Mason University, Fairfax VA.
2011: “Telsonic” featured at the Noisefloor Festival, Staffordshire University, Stafford, UK.
2010: “Walking Quickly Closer” featured at Sonic Vigil V, St. Fin Barre Cathedral, Cork Ireland.
2010: “Against Silhouettes” (60×60) featured at the 9th International Congress of Art and Technology, National Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2010: “Mapambuzko” featured at Soundgate Kunsten, Utzon Centre, and Platform4, Aalborg, Denmark.
2010: “Telsonic” featured at Electronic Music Midwest, Lewis University, Joliet, IL.
2010: “Against Silhouettes” (60×60) featured at Electronic Music Midwest, Lewis University, Joliet, IL.
2010: “Telsonic” featured at the Ball State University Composer’s Forum.
2010: “Waterstate” featured at Ball State University Faculty Composer’s Forum.
2010: “Telsonic” and “Driftwood” featured at the Threshold Festival, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH.
2010: “Against Silhouettes” (60×60) featured at Electronic Studio of the Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
2010: “Against Silhouettes” (60×60) featured at the Conservatorio di Musica, Latina, Italy.
2010: “Against Silhouettes,”(60×60) featured at the International Computer Music Conference, Stony Brook, New York.
2010: “Walking Quickly Closer” featured at SoundLab VII in Cologne, Germany.
2010: “Waterstate” featured at the IUPUI Intermedia Festival, Indianapolis, IN.
2010: “Preludium,” “Photobooth, no. 1,” and “Driftwood,” featured at Electronic Music Concert, Georgia Southern University.
2010: “Telsonic” featured at Channel Noise 2, Georgia Southern University.
2010: “Telsonic” featured at the Graduate Research Symposium, Georgia Southern University.
2010: “Waterstate” performed at the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, NY.
2010: “Driftwood” performed by Alex Sellers at the International Saxophone Symposium, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
2010: “Driftwood” performed by Alex Sellers at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.
2009: “Walking Quickly Closer” performed at the Silence Horror, Beauty Festival, Miami, FL.
2009: “Photobooth, No. 1” performed at the Asim’tria Festival, Lima Peru.
2009: “Walking Quickly Closer” performed at the Florida Electroacoustic Student Festival, Miami, FL.
2009: “Waterstate” performed at Electroacoustic Juke Joint, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS.
2009: “Still Standing Still” performed at Channel Noise Concert, Georgia Southern University.
2009: “Waterstate” performed at the Composers Forum, Georgia Southern University.
2009: “Mapambuzko” performed at the Phi Kappa Phi Research Symposium, Georgia Southern University.
2009: “Mapambuzko” performed at the Graduate Research Symposium, Georgia Southern University.
2007: “Marquette” and “Carousel”: preformed at the Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND.
2006: “The Quiet Stillness” performed at Oak Hill Lutheran Church, Bloomington, MN.
Publications:
Thompson, John and Michael Olson. “Georgia Southern University Studio Report.” In Proceedings of the 2010 International Computer Music Conference, International Computer Music Association, 2010.
TV/Film Credits:
2010: MTV-TV music featured on “Real World: DC.”
2010: Music featured in the theatrical release “Stamped” (Frontier Films).
2008: MTV–TV music featured on “Gauntlet III.”
2008: MTV–TV music featured on “My Super Sweet 16.”
2007: ABC–TV music featured on “What About Brian?”
2007: MTV–TV music featured on “Real World: Sydney.”
2007: MTV–TV music featured on “Real World: Denver.”
2007: MTV–TV music featured on “Road Rules: Viewers Revenge.”
2007: MTV–TV music featured on “Inferno III.”
2007: KARE–TV music featured on “Morning Show.”
2007: KARE–TV (NBC) music featured on nightly news broadcasts.
2007: WCCO–TV music featured on “Saturday Morning Show.”
2006: MTV–TV music featured on “Real World: Denver.”
2006: MTV–TV music featured on “The Duel.”
2006: MTV–TV music featured on “My Super Sweet 16.”
2006: PBS–TV Soundcheck, 30 minute live performance.
2006: KARE–TV, songs featured on nightly sports section.
2005: KARE–TV, “Showcase Minnesota,” live performance.
2005: KARE–TV, songs featured on nightly sports section.
Recordings:
Year: Artist, Album Title, Record Label (Role)
2011: Born Forty, Perfect Picture, Self-Released (Producer).
2009: Michael James Olson, DEMUS Compilation, DEMUS (Australia), (Composer).
2009: Brookdale, Still Going With the Lights Out, Columbia Sounds/BAM (Songwriter, Producer).
2008: Brookdale, Twin Town High X, CopyCats/CityPages (Songwriter, Producer).
2007: Holiday, EP, Runway Network/RED (Executive Producer, Performer).
2007: Fair Weather Friend, Dragon Tracks: Reflections, MSUM Studios (Songwriter, Producer).
2006: Jessie Veeder, A Place To Belong, Barking Dog Records (Arranger, Performer).
2005: Scott Flaten, Fill, Self–Released (Performer).
2005: Holiday, Fashionably Late, Aquarium Records (Songwriter, Producer, Performer).
2004: Holiday, Living With The Fallout, Blueday Recordings (Songwriter, Producer, Performer).
2003: Fair Weather Friend, Dragon Tracks 12, MSUM Studios (Songwriter. Producer, Performer).
2003: Margot Wagner, Firefly, Barking Dog Records (Arranger, Performer).
2002: Mandy Brakel, This Journey, Self–Released (Performer)
Professional:
Booking Agent/Assistant, Bitzer Entertainment Agency, Fargo, ND 2004–2007
• Artist booking and event planning for music venues.
• Developed marketing and promotional materials.
• Developed college and commercial radio campaigns to more than 250 stations nationwide.
Songwriter/Artist/Manager, Holiday, Fargo, ND/Minneapolis, MN 2003–2006
• Performed 600+ shows throughout the United States.
• Performed with Better Than Ezra, Semisonic, Violent Fems, Rick Springfield, Everclear, Josh Turner, Eve6.
• Licensing deals with MTV, VH1, ABC, PBS, NBC, E!, Oxygen, and Warner Brothers.
• 50+ placements of songs including features on MTV shows “The Duel,” “The Gauntlet,” and “The Real World;” ABC’s “What About Brian;” PBS special “Soundcheck;” and Minnesota Vikings (NFL) and Minnesota Twins (MLB) stadium promotions.
• Top 200 spot on RIYL college music charts for “Fashionably Late”, radio play on more than 200 stations across the U.S. and Canada.
• Radio airplay for “Still Going With The Lights Out” on more than 150 college radio stations across the U.S. and Canada.
• Worked with producers Chris Grainger (Switchfoot, Sixpence None the Richer), Russ Long (Relient K, Wilco), Wes Schuck (Billy Idol, Dixie Chicks), and Luke Harper(Imogen Heap, Andrew Bird).
Intern, Oarfin Records, Minneapolis, MN 2003
• Assisted in Grammy marketing campaign for Sounds Of Blackness.
• Booked in–store appearances for label artists.
• Databased nationwide retail stores for distribution.
Live Sound Engineer, Fargo/Moorhead Park District 2000–2001
• Live sound engineer for weekend events.
• Developed proposal for purchasing of new PA system.
Memberships and Service Positions:
• Adjudication Committee Member, 2009 Channel Noise Concerts.
• Composer and publisher (Columbia Sounds) with ASCAP.
• Member of the Society for Electro Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS).
• Former member of the Audio Engineering Society.
Software Authored:
• GrainSynth: A granular synthesis software application. Features include grain cloud visualizations and stochastic cloud formations.
• Amethyst: A pedagogical software application(In Progress.)
Software/Hardware Proficiency:
• DigiDesign ICON and HD control systems, Mackie, Allen and Heath, and Yamaha analog and digital mixing consoles, Digital Performer, Pro Tools, MAX/MSP/Jitter, Supercollider, Finale, JAVA, Reason, Garageband, Peak, Soundhack, Spear, Final Cut Pro, Cecilia, MetaSynth, Adobe suite.
