Amy Brandon

Amy Brandon is a Lecturer at the Fountain School of Performing Arts, Dalhousie University, where she focuses on applied study and composition. Her work bridges creative and academic pursuits, including an interdisciplinary PhD examining augmented reality and motor learning in guitar performance.

Education:

• BMus in Jazz Guitar Performance from Carleton University
• MA in Composition from the University of Ottawa
• PhD (completing) in Interdisciplinary Studies from Dalhousie University

Brandon's research explores the intersection of composition, augmented reality, and performance pedagogy. Her music, described as 'otherworldly' and 'physically involving,' integrates sound as both malleable material and structural element, with recent works performed internationally at venues like National Sawdust and the Gaudeamus Festival.

Scientific Awards:

• Leo Brouwer Guitar Composition Competition Grand Prize (2019)
• JACK Quartet Studio Artist commission

Her 2024 album Lysis (New Focus Recordings) has garnered critical acclaim, including a spot on The Wire's Modern Composition year-end list (#4). Reviews highlight her 'disciplined inquiries' and 'exhilaration of discovery' in works that balance bleakness with beauty through innovative musical language.