About
Paul Stapleton is a Professor of Music at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC) within Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Arts, English and Languages. His work focuses on new musical instrument design, sound sculpture creation, and critical improvisation studies. He collaborates internationally across disciplines, including art, medicine, and technology. Stapleton holds a Visiting Scholar position at Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), and regularly presents at conferences such as NIME. He leads AHRC-funded projects like Humanising Algorithmic Listening and co-directed the Translating Improvisation research group. His creative work includes the acclaimed immersive audio-theatre Reassembled, Slightly Askew, exploring brain injury recovery.
Education: Practise-Led PhD in The Development of Dialogic Music (2001–2004) at the University of Central Lancashire. Key projects include the Bonsai Sound Sculpture (BoSS) and collaborations with artists like Simon Rose and Ens Ekt trio. Awards include the NIME 2017 Best Poster Award for Virtual-Acoustic Instrument Design.
Research interests span instrument design, sound art, and interdisciplinary improvisation. His work bridges technology and human experience, with recent focus on algorithmic listening and embodied aesthetics. Grants include AHRC, EU, and Wellcome Trust funding. Advising PhD students and mentoring emerging artists through practice-based research.
Labs/Teams: SARC, collaborations with biomedical teams at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, and international networks like NIME and SIEMPRE. His albums, such as FAUNA (with Rose), blend experimental soundscapes with improvisational rigor.
