Christian Gentry

Christian Gentry is an Associate Professor of Music in the Department of Communication, Media, and Performance at Framingham State University. Based in the Boston area, he is an active sound artist, composer, and performer whose concert works frequently incorporate electronic elements. His creative practice spans chamber and solo compositions, sound design, and interdisciplinary collaborations with visual artists and poets.

Education:

• Bachelor of Music (BM) from the University of Utah
• Master of Music (MM) from the University of Louisville
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Brandeis University

Gentry's research centers on experimental sound art and electronic music composition, exploring intersections between acoustic instruments and electronic media. Works like "Ellipsis #1" for trombone with live tape loops and "Insomnambularist" for mezzo-soprano with noise oscillators demonstrate his innovative approach to integrating technology with traditional performance. His practice extends to audio production, music theory pedagogy, and historical studies of rock and pop music, reflecting a holistic engagement with contemporary musical creation and discourse.

His creative output from 2013-2023 reveals consistent exploration of electronic and experimental soundscapes through diverse formats including LPs, EPs, and singles. Releases under Utazmaky Music and the Maribo moniker showcase evolving techniques in sound manipulation and composition, with award-winning projects like "A Father's Lullaby" and ongoing collaborations such as the "Feedback Loop Project" highlighting his commitment to interdisciplinary artistic dialogue.

Awards:

• Ars Electronica Award of Distinction in the Digital Musics and Sound Art category for "A Father's Lullaby"

Gentry maintains extensive collaborative relationships with performers including William Lang, Megan Ihnen, and Jihye Chang, as well as visual artists Rashin Fahandej and Tim McDonald. While formal advisees aren't documented in the source material, his workshops at HUBWeek Boston (2018) and NYU's Un/Sounding the Relational City Conference (2020) demonstrate active knowledge exchange within academic and artistic communities. His work with Utazmaky Music provides critical infrastructure for independent artistic distribution.

He co-leads the "Feedback Loop Project" with visual artist Tim McDonald, an improvisational framework investigating real-time interactions between sound and visual media. Through Utazmaky Music, his self-founded publishing and production company, Gentry maintains direct control over the creative lifecycle of his works from composition to distribution, supporting both his solo output and collaborative ventures.