Michael Olson, D.A.

Education:

• D.A. in Music Composition and Technology from Ball State University
• M.M. in Music Technology from Georgia Southern University
• B.M. in Music Industry from Minnesota State University, Moorhead

Biography:

Michael James Olson is a Minnesota-based composer, performer, producer, and media artist. Michael’s concert music has been performed throughout the world, in venues such as the Beijing Science Museum, Asim’tria Festival (Peru), New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Soundgate (Denmark), SoundLab VII (Germany), Sonic Vigil V (Ireland), International Saxophone Symposium, Ninth International Congress of Art and Technology (Brazil), Conservatorio di Musica (Italy), International Computer Music Conference (NY, TX), SEAMUS National Conference (FL, MN, GA), Brunel Electronic and Analogue Music Festival (UK), Audiograft Festival (Oxford), Noisefloor Festival(UK), National University of Music (Romania),  Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival, Studio 300 Festival, Circuit Bridges Festival, Electronic Music Midwest (KS, IL), Third Practice Festival, and Art and Science Days (Bourges, France), among many others. Michael is the co-Director of the Root Signals Electronic Music Festival, a semi-annual festival of electronic music and media art, which is held at campuses across the country. Michael’s music and production has been featured on more than 30 albums and in films and television, including programs on MTV, VH1, E!, Spike, ABC, NBC, PBS, and CBS and stadium promotions with the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. In addition, his music and production have charted in various formats, including #1 on the CMJ Jazz Charts, numerous top 100’s on the iTunes Country Charts, as well as garnering radio airplay on more than 150 stations throughout the US, Australia, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, UK, Denmark, Luxembourg, South Africa, and Switzerland. Michael holds a MM from Georgia Southern University, and a Doctorate from Ball State University. After two years as Assistant Professor of Music at Jacksonville University, Michael currently serves as Associate Professor of Music Composition and Music Technology at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Recordings:

• 2019: Michael James Olson, “What Comes After,” Columbia Sounds, (Composer/Producer).
• 2017: Michael James Olson, “Before Reminiscence” METropolis, Volume 1, Beneficience Records, (Composer)
• 2017: Michael James Olson, “Murmurs” on Sn (Stannum), Janus Music and Sound (Germany), (Composer)
• 2016: 32 Below, EP Sessions, UIRF Records, (Songwriter)
• 2016: 32 Below, I Wrote For You [Single Release], UIRF Records, (Songwriter)
• 2015: Blue Muse, Blue Muse Live!, Dolphinium Records (Engineer, Producer)
• 2015: Kimberly Beasley, Fashion Sense: Songs In Recital, Dolphinium Records (Engineer, Producer)

Performances/Presentations:

2019:

• Guest Artist Residency and Performance, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.
• 2019: Edwards Distinguished Professor of the Arts Residency, Marshall University, Huntington, WV.
• 2019: F(r)E(e)D(o)M with Aaron Humble, MoxSonic Festival, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO.
• 2019: Solo Performance, 2/24, Root Signals Electronic Music Festival, GA.

2018:

• Set Me As A Seal, Jacksonville University Choir, Electroacoustic Barndance, Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL.
• “Unraveling” and “Along The North Shore” Studio Z, St. Paul, MN.
• Solo Recital of Full Album “What Comes After”, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
• Along The North Shore, MoxSonic Festival, University of Central Missouri,   Warrensburg, MO.
• The Glimmering Deep, After Reminiscence, Root Signals Electronic Music Festival, Statesboro, GA.
• Emergence and Telsonic, Ohio University, Oxford Ohio.
• Altair, University of Virginia Electronic Music Ensemble, Charlottesville, VA.

2017:

• Shortwave Songs, What Comes After, and Farewells, Root Signals Electronic Music Festival, Statesboro, GA.
• Along The North Shore and Savannah, 11/5, Third Practice Festival, University of Richmond Richmond, VA.
• Altair, 11/16, Wayne State Electronic Music Ensemble, Detroit, MI.
• Altair, 10/18, Wayne State Electronic Music Ensemble, Detroit, MI.
• Shortwave Songs, 9/30, Electronic Music Midwest, Kansas City Community College, Kansas City, KS.
• Savannah, 10/16, Studio Z Composer’s Night, St. Paul MN.
• Flux Beta, New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, NYC, NY.
• Before Reminiscence, Ashmolean Museum of Art, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
• Before Reminiscence, Audiograft Festivval, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK.
• Altair, SUNY Potsdam Electronic Music Ensemble, Potsdam, NY.
• Along The North Shore, 9/23 Jacksonville University Percussion Ensemble, Jacksonville, FL.
• Set Me As A Seal, University Singers winter concert, Mankato, MN.

2016:

• Emergence, New Music Ensemble, Florence, Italy.
• Flux Beta, EM|Two, Ball State University, Muncie, IN.
• Altair and Along The North Shore, 11/17, EMIC fall concert, Mankato, MN.
• Emergence, 6/5, Art and Science Days, Bourges, France.
• Along The North Shore, 10/11, Electroacoustic Barndance, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA.
• [in] Pieces | Slivers, Drift Station Gallery Jukebox, Driftstation.org.
• Along The North Shore, 11/13, Electronic Music Midwest, Lewis University,  Romeoville, IL.
• Before Reminiscence, Cicadia Consort, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.
• Altair, EMIC Ensemble, 3/30, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
• Heliocentric, SEAMUS National Conference, Georgia Southern University,Statesboro, GA.

2015:

• Emergence, 9/25, International Computer Music Conference, North Texas State University, Denton, TX.
• Emergence, 11/29, New York University New Music Ensemble, New York University, New York, NY.
• After Reminiscence, and Altair 9/14, Root Signals Electronic Music Festival, Jacksonville, FL.
• Emergence, Society of Composers National Conference (selected, not performed), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
• Emergence, 2/20, Contemporary Music Festival, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
• Flux Beta, 11/20 EMM, Kansas City Community College, Kansas City, KS.
• Emergence, 4/28 Noisefloor Festival, Staffordshire University, Staffordshire, UK.
• [in] Pieces | Slivers, 3/25, New Music Concert, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.
• Emergence, 3/12, Ball State Festival of New Music, Muncie, IN.
• Emergence, 5/2, New York University New Music Ensemble, New York University, New York, NY.

Web:

• www.michaeljamesolson.com
• www.instagram.com/dr.mjo