2021 ARCHIVE
18-19 Feb. 2021
Featured guest artist
Virtual premiere of black box fading in 360° video/VR format
9 April 2021
Showing of black box fading (360° video/VR format)
Online (due to COVID-19)
17 May 2021
black box fading
hybrid VR/installation experience
ft. improvisation machine (AIYA) | sensor-augmented flute | humans
Abschlussprojekt (pt. 2), M.A. Transdisziplinarität
15-18 Jun. 2021
Installation at the 2021 New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) Conference | black box fading for human, sensor-augmented flute (Chaosflöte), and improvisation machine (AIYA)
21. Jun. - 16. Jul. 2021
FX Sonic Immersion Faculty Artist
4-week summer contemporary music intensive with Shanna Pranaitis, Matthias Ziegler, Anne La Berge, Camilla Hoitenga, Eric Lamb, Jane Rigler, Carla Rees, and Melody Chua.
Enrollment is by application only. Learn more at flutexpansions.com
26 Jun. 2021
KM 42: Queering Games // WORKSHOP // Digitale Welt – Digitale Plattformen verspielen
"Die künstlerischen Forscher*innen Laurent Jakimow, Melody Chua und Sebastiaan Cator stellen je eine digitale Plattform vor – wie beispielsweise Google Maps, Wikipedia, Zoom – und leiten uns an, diese spielerisch von ihrem Zweck zu entfremden.
Leitfragen: Wie kann man digitale Strukturen lesen und verstehen? Welche Möglichkeiten bieten sich diese zu durchkreuzen und welche Erkenntnisse werden dabei gewonnen?" - Kein Museum
9 Jul. 2021
My Behavioural Surplus - The Freedom of Speech in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
"Meet the Expert": The Freedom of Speech of the Machine // Workshop
Improvisation machine workshop at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart
11:00-13:00
9 Jul. 2021
My Behavioural Surplus - The Freedom of Speech in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
The Freedom of Speech of the Machine I // Guest Artist Presentation:
Guest artist presentation
17 Jul. 2021
My Behavioural Surplus - The Freedom of Speech in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism
The Freedom of Speech of the Machine III // Konzert
Live electronics concert with Chi Him Chik at Wagenhalle Stuttgart (Streamed)
1h
Jul. 2021
Artist Interview on Recordedness
"Recordedness is dedicated to questions related to documentation of sound and the act of recording.
What is the purpose of recording when we practice an art form that is placed in an ephemeral time? What is our relationship to materiality and what is the purpose of a materialization of sound? Is it a question of archiving, of leaving an imprint, a trace, such that the recording would only be an "objectified" or concretized means, a materialization to relate our sonic relationship to space and time? Or will the final material indicate and influence the sounds that will be fixed and crystallized? As for the material, why the choice of this or that format and not another? What is its influence on the work?
...The aim here is not to give definitive answers to these questions, nor to give voice to a critique from a single point of view. As Brunhild Ferrari says very well in her text The Microphone's Gaze (in Spectres n°1, Composing Listening), between the one who captures (makes) and the one who listens, there is a difference in the inner perception of the same object seen identically. Dialogue is the way to exchange and enrich each other. We wish here to dialogue and above all to give the voice directly to the artist, on her/his work, her/his thoughts and her/his intentions. Through dialogue, we wish to address different analytical approaches and perceptions, to question the process of creation, which seems to us to be just as important as the final result and would give us additional keys to understanding."
1 Sep. 2021
Music Video Release: "Get out of Me"
Commissioned for Max Petersen Trio's new album LiberA
"The forthcoming full-length release from German-Australian pianist / composer Max Petersen is titled LiberA. This fusion of the feminine and masculine aspects of the Roman god of freedom is very telling. It evokes the notion of pursuing freedoms: personal, civil, musical, and creative. It also speaks to an active engagement with the synthesis of apparent opposites: jazz / classical, synthetic / acoustic, formally restrictive / improvisationally unbound." - Lukasz Polowczyk
Sep. 2021 - June. 2022
Associate lecturer, Hochschule der Künste Bern
- Klangwerkstatt: workshops developing performances with interactive electronics; in collaboration between the HKB Sound Arts department and flute studio
- Game Performances: semester course on creating interactive, nonlinear systems in concert
7-10 Oct. 2021
Chaosflöte full recital, interactive electronics, live visuals, ft. Jaira Peyer/Sounding Feet
"Movement. Machine. Freedom. is an interdisciplinary concert experience using live visual projections and live electroacoustic sounds, exploring our creative relationship with machines and movement. What brings us freedom in a performance? What takes it away? How does the relationship between freedom and restriction shape our interactions with each other? By playing with movement as an expressive medium for improvisation and working with the at-times unpredictable behavior of machine agents, sensor-augmented flutist Melody Chua and sensor-augmented dancer Jaira Peyer make translations between the human and machine performance language in order to challenge the human-machine and music-movement relationships in nuanced and powerful ways."
More information can be found here.
21-22 Oct. 2021
Performance adaptation of black box fading for chaosflöte & improvisation machine
23 Oct. 2021
marathon of experimental music/art, 100 performances, 3mins each, high-speed, let's go.
Location: Zitrone (Manegg)
13-14 Nov. 2021
360°/VR film showings of black box fading at the ZHdK Immersive Arts Space as part of the Refresh Festival
black box fading reflects Chua’s experience developing and working with a musical improvisation machine, and it can be seen as a transient imagination of this machine’s memories and dreams. This 22-min film in 360°/VR is composed out of a series of recorded improvisations made between the machine and Chua herself, as she experiences the machine as at times an external chamber music partner and at other times an extension of her own body. Occupying the realm between concert documentation and narrative film, and between physical and virtual spaces, this work challenges shifting representations of orientation and disorientation, distance and intimacy, vulnerability, human-machine agency, and immersive (dis)embodiment.
7 Dec. 2021
Guest lecturer at the Immersive Arts Space series, "Immersion and Embodiment in Fine Arts, Design, Film, Performing Arts and Music."
Lecture: black box fading - (dis)embodiment in immersive machine improvisation
To attend the lectures, please register by sending an email to immersive.arts@zhdk.ch and state the date(s) of your choice.
11 Dec. 2021
World premiere of multiplyer :: black box for chaosflöte, AIYA (improvisation machine), and movement performers.
keywords: sonic virtual presence/identity; surveillance; shifting perspectives; network glitch & latency as a compositional tools
2020 ARCHIVE
28 Jan. 2020
Chaosflöte + A•I•Y•A performances at the Jubiläumsveranstaltung 25 Jahre Datenschutzgesetz im Kanton Zürich.
World premiere of The Many Voices (for Chaosflöte)
28 Feb. 2020 | 17:30 (CET)
Master Recital of Barbara Hidber, composer
Performance of Verzettelt for solo flute
21 Mar. 2021
Artificial Intelligence and Creativity | Guest Speaker/Panel Discussion. Moods, Zürich
(cancelled due to COVID-19)
30 May 2020 | 19:30-23:00 (EDT)
Null-state intercontinental live coding performance: meditation.dystopia
18 Jul. 2020 | 11:40 (EDT)
Null-state intercontinental live coding performance: meditation.dystopia
14 Aug. 2020 | 12:30 (CET)
Solo am Mittag concert series: solo Chaosflöte + A•I•Y•A set
(Cancelled)
11 Sep. 2020 | 22:00
Solo concert: diaphragma for chaosflöte, A•I•Y•A, live sound/live visuals
"a solo improvisation and my song of the breath, one that undulates between uncertainty, persistence, and vulnerability."
30 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2020
"aiya meets self is a interactive installation utilizing pose detection and machine improvisation to create an audiovisual dialogue. With her installation the artist Melody Chua is creating a space between an improvisation machine, its creator, and the tensions that exist between the two as they navigate each other as ‘others’ and also as integral parts of each other’s identity and embodiment."
https://www.keinmuseum.ch/veranstaltung/km-38-aiya-meets-self
4 Dec. 2020
(postponed due to COVID-19)
aiya meets self interactive audiovisual installation (Lange Nacht adaptation of KM38):
"aiya meets self is a interactive installation utilizing pose detection and machine improvisation to create an audiovisual dialogue. With her installation the artist Melody Chua is creating a space between an improvisation machine, its creator, and the tensions that exist between the two as they navigate each other as ‘others’ and also as integral parts of each other’s identity and embodiment."
7-11 Dec. 2020
black box fading
Abschlussprojekt (pt. 1), M.A. Transdisziplinarität
360-recorded performance with chaosflöte + AIYA
2019 ARCHIVE
18 Jan. 2019 | 19:30 (CET)
Performance with the ZHdK Contemporary Ensemble (Arc-en-ciel) collaboration project with the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology
4 Mar. 2019
Guest lecture at the Kein Kino series at Kino Toni: "Building a Performance Practice for Interactive Electronics"
12 Apr. 2019 | 14:00
Presentation of A•I•Y•A, algorithmic improvisation machine
25 Apr. 2019 | 17:30 (EDT)
Guest Lecture:
"Fundamentals of Live Audio"
Eastern Florida State College
25-26 May 2019
<<Artificial Dance>> Installation-Performance
Programming/designing interactive sounds for the Abschlussprojekt of Jaira Peyer
19 Jul. 2019 | 14:00 (CET)
Presentation of Chaosflöte and A•I•Y•A, intuitive improvisation machine, for Sony at Immersive Arts Space
22-26 Aug. 2019
Roche Continents Program, Selected Participant
5-day exchange between scientists and artists, hosted by Roche and the Salzburg Festival
30 Aug. 2019
Chaosflöte + A•I•Y•A (intuitive improvisation machine) world premiere
3 Sep. 2019 | 10:04 (CET)
Chaosflöte + A•I•Y•A (intuitive improvisation machine) performance
27 Sep. 2019 | 19:00 (CET)
REFRESH 2019 // Digital Festival at Immersive Arts Space, Zürich (CH)
Chaosflöte + A•I•Y•A performance
++World Premiere of NEXT STEP for dancer & electronic shoes
12-13 Oct. 2019 | 20:00-1:00 (CET)
WHITE PULSE MARATHON Carte Blanche // chaosflöte + AIYA
60 performers. 100 x 3mins. No boredom. High speed.
"A toast to Pheidippides"
6 Nov. 2019 | 10:00 (CET)
Chaosflöte presentation at Swiss Interactive Sessions
19 Nov. 2019 | 15:30-16:45 (EST)
Guest artist presentation for the University of South Florida Flute Studio, as part of the 2019 Null-state Residency at USF.
20 Nov. 2019 | 19:30-20:30 (EST)
Null-state concert with chaosflöte and live coding, as part of the 2019 Null-state Residency at Barness Recital Hall.
21 Nov. 2019
Guest lecture for the University of South Florida composition studio/Real-time Electronics in Composition seminar.
2018 ARCHIVE
19 Jan. 2018 | 19:30
Arc-en-ciel concert of contemporary music at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
Werke von György Ligeti und Dozierenden der Zürcher Hochschule der Künste
25 Jan. 2018 | 11:00 (EST)
Guest artist presentation for students at Eastern Florida State College.
26 Jan. 2018 | 20:00 (EST)
Null-state intercontinental live-coding concert and workshop for students at the University of Central Florida.
5 Feb. 2018
World premiere of Chaos Ver. 4 for sensor-augmented Chaosflöte and live visuals/electronics for the ZHdK Academic Advisory Committee
as part of the event "Future of Creative Industries"
21 Feb. 2018
Presentation on new concert formats, as part of the "career preparation" workshops at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste.
12 Mar. 2018 | 15:00 (EST)
Guest lecture and presentation on chaosflöte and my performance practice
7 Apr. 2018 | 16:00 (EST)
Performances of works for Chaosflöte: Prelude for an Avenoir (Melody Chua) and Entropic Atelier No. 3 (Benjamin D. Whiting)
22 Apr. 2018 | 17:00 (CET)
Orchester der Zürcher Hochschule der Künste plays works of Berio, Rachmaninow, Rolf Liebermann, Bernd Alois Zimmermann at Tonhalle Maag.
25 May 2018 | 18:00
Uraufführungsabend der Kompositionsklassen
World premiere of Serenspoken (2018) by Melody Chua for fixed media,
+ premiering works by Barbara Hidber and Patricia Meier
28 May 2018 | 19:00 (CET)
Podium: Impro pool of Lucas Niggli
12 Jun. 2018 | 19:00 (CEST)
MA Music Performance Abschlusskonzert: an immersive recital of live visuals, Chaosflöte, and unpredictable electronics
Jun. - Sep. 2018
Conceptualization and creation of Mirror, MirrOr live interactive dance performance with motion capture.
(as lead developer for interactive sound)
28 Aug. 2018
U.S. Premiere of Serenspoken for fixed electronics by Melody Chua at Eastern Florida State College.
22 Sep. 2018
Mirror, Mirr0r: Interactive Dance Performance with Motion Capture and Live Electronics (as lead sound designer/programmer)
23 Sep. 2018
World premiere of NEXTION for Chaosflöte and live electronics + interactive visuals for the ZHdK Highlights Festival.
13 October 2018
World premiere of PUMP, an explosion of many trumps (2018) for Supercollider and TouchOSC.
16 Oct. 2018 | 12:30 (EDT) Lecture | 15:00 Masterclass
Guest Artist/Lecturer (Null-state) on electroacoustic music practice and the chaosflöte.
22 Oct. 2018 | 19:30 (EDT)
Null-state performance:
Part 1: Chaosflöte concert
Part 2: Chaosflöte + live coding improvisation w/ Benjamin D. Whiting
23 Oct 2018 | 16:30 Lecture/Workshop | 19:00 Performance
Null-state guest artist presentation, workshop, and concert for students of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
8 Nov. 2018
Chaosflöte performance for the Swiss Parliament at the Seminar der Kommissionen für Wissenschaft, Bildung und Kultur des National- und Ständerates
Dec. 2018
Featured on the Swiss Music Journal Dissonance "Über das Instrument hinaus" written by Thomas Meyer
2017 ARCHIVE
14 Jan. 2017
Debut of second alpha-state Chaosflöte HCaos Ver. 2 for sensor-augmented flute, live-processed sound, and live-visuals
Composed and performed by Melody Chua
Production of SWR/E-Werk Freiburg/HfG Karlsruhe 2017
3 Feb. 2017
Null-State guest artist presentation at the University of South Florida
18 Feb. 2018
Performance with the ZHdK Symphony Orchestra at Tonhalle Concert Hall, Zürich
27 Feb. 2017
Null-state guest artist presentation at the University of Central Florida with Dr. Benjamin D. Whiting
29 Mar. 2017
Recital: Flute Studio of Matthias Ziegler
2-5 May 2017
Noisefloor Festival Composition Selection
HCaos Ver. 2 for sensor-augmented flute and live processed sound and live visuals
19 May 2017
Uraufführungsabend der Master-Kompositionsklassen ZHdK, premiere of Chaos Ver. 2b (HCaos variant) for sensor-augmented flute and live electronics+visuals.
20 May 2017
Null-state Intercontinental Live-Coding Performance at the Accidental Music Festival 2017 Contemporary Music Marathon.
17 Jun. 2017
Live-Electronics Laptop Performance at Center for Art and Media Technology, Karlsruhe (ZKM) Next Generation Festival 7.0
18 + 22 June 2017
Performance at recitals of Tomomi Matsuo, Anna-Barbara Rösch
22 Jun. 2017
Recipient of New Music USA Grant: Nullstate: Chaosflöte - Catalyzing a new body of work for the open-source, sensor-augmented flute
2 Jul. 2017
Guest lecture/presentation: "Aesthetic and Practical Considerations in Electronic Music"
Jul. 2017
Artist Residency at Immersive Lab at the Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology, Zürich
3 Aug. 2017 | 19:30 (CET)
Opera Premiere (as flutist): Il segreto di Susanna
3 Sep. 2017 | 19:30 (EDT)
5 Sep. 2017
Null-state Guest Artist Presentation for EFSC students
6 Sep. 2017
Improvisation workshop for students at the University of Central Florida
6 Sep. 2017
5-8 Sep. 2017
Null-state gives workshops and masterclasses on electroacoustic composition and the chaosflöte (click here for full calendar of events)
13 Sep. 2017
European premiere of Prelude to an Avenoir for Chaosflöte and live electronics + interactive visuals
18 Sep. 2017
Performance of Prelude to an Avenoir for Chaosflöte and live electronics + interactive visuals for ZHdK "Insights" event
20 Sep. 2017
Performance of Prelude to an Avenoir and Chaos Ver 2B for Chaosflöte and live electronics + interactive visuals as part of the ZHdK Highlights Festival
31 Oct. 2017
Flute Studio Recital of Matthias Ziegler
8 Nov. 2017 | 19:30
Arc-en-ciel Contemporary Music Concert as part of Focus Contemporary Zürich West
24 Nov. 2017
Baroque Flute Masterclass Performance with Rachel Brown, Professor of Baroque Flute at the Royal College of Music
7 Dec. 2017 | 22:20 (CET)
Lange Nacht: Artikulationen in der zeitgenössischen Musik
Intercontinental Live-Coding Performance with Benjamin D. Whiting
2016 ARCHIVE
Jan. 2016
Joined the Krannert Center for Performing Arts recording and sound production team
21 Jan. 2016
Performance at Lisa Garner Santa masterclass
Feb. 2016
Dr. Stephen Andrew Taylor Sonification of DNA and Amino Acids
recorded/processed flute samples
5 Mar. 2016
-Performance of CHAOS ver. 1 (by Melody Chua) at the 2016 College Music Society Conference
-Performance of Ashley Fu-Tsun Wang's Antares Falling with pianist Chia-ying Chan
30 April 2016
Solo recital of flute and electronics.
World Premieres:
Benjamin D. Whiting Entropic Atelier
May - Jun. 2016
Jun. - Jul. 2016
Jul. 2016
Lecture: "Important Fundamentals of Electronics and Live Audio Setup" at the Atlantic Music Festival Future Music Lab
21 Jul. 2016
Selective Memory world premiere, by Melody Chua, for sensor-augmented flute, 4-channel live electronics, and visuals, as part of the Atlantic Music Festival
4 Nov. 2016
Recital of the flute studio of Matthias Ziegler
Kammermusiksaal I (CH)
2015 ARCHIVE
Jul 2015
Participation in the Project Trio Festival, performance at Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
Nov. 2015
Commercial CD Release
MODES: Vol. 30 Society of Composers
Benjamin D. Whiting Melodia sin melodia
recorded/processed flute
2015
Paintings commissioned by the University of Illinois Campus Honors House
2016
Selective Memoryfor Chaosflöte
sound/visuals/performance by melo
2017
Prelude for an Avenoir
for Chaosflöte
sound/visuals/performance by melo
Chaos Ver. 2b
for Chaosflöte
sound/visuals/performance by melo