Steven Kemper

Steven Kemper is an Associate Professor of Computer Music and Digital Arts at the Oberlin Conservatory, part of Oberlin College. He is a music technologist, composer, and instrument designer specializing in creating music for acoustic instruments, digital systems, and robotic platforms. He co-founded Expressive Machines Musical Instruments (EMMI), a collective focused on designing and composing for robotic musical instruments.

He holds a Ph.D. in Composition and Computer Technologies from the University of Virginia. His research and creative work bridges music composition, technology, and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in interactive installations and robotic performance systems.

• Awards: Ammerman Center, Meet the Composer, Danish Arts Council, International Computer Music Association
• Key Projects: Development of robotic instruments through EMMI

His artistic practice emphasizes the intersection of human expression and technological innovation in musical contexts.