Tullis Rennie

Dr. Tullis Rennie is a Senior Lecturer in Music at City, University of London, where he teaches in the Department of Music. An accomplished composer, improvising trombonist, electronic musician, and field recordist, his work spans sound installation, community-engaged projects, multi-channel concert works, video, mixed media, and live performances.

Dr. Rennie's academic background includes:

• PhD in Composition from Queen's University Belfast (2016)
• MusM in Electroacoustic Music Composition from the University of Manchester (2006)
• MusB (Hons) in Music from the University of Manchester (2005), where he received the Peter J Leonard prize for composition

His research focuses on the intersection of sound art and ethnographic practice, exploring how musical composition can serve as a threshold between documentation and artistic expression. Dr. Rennie's work particularly examines:

• Ethnography in sound
• Music and Identity
• Narratives of Field Recording
• Sampling cultures
• Participative approaches to Sound Art

Dr. Rennie's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent exploration of the relationship between sound, community, and identity. His recent works increasingly focus on collaborative, community-engaged projects that challenge traditional hierarchies in sound art creation and consumption. His compositions and academic writings reveal a deep commitment to ethical considerations in field recording and a growing emphasis on distributed authorship in socially engaged sound practices.

His notable achievements include:

• Receiving the Peter J Leonard prize for composition during his undergraduate studies
• Co-founding Insectotròpics, an award-winning audio-visual collective based in Barcelona
• Completing two residencies at the UFRJ in Rio de Janeiro (2013-14)

As an educator and mentor, Dr. Rennie supervises research students including Jonathan Higgins and Gunseli Naz Ferel Ucar. His teaching and research are closely intertwined with his professional activities as a performer, having appeared with notable ensembles such as Anton Hunter's Article XI, Cath Roberts' Favourite Animals, and QUBe at prestigious venues including Café Oto, IKLECTIK, and Hundred Years Gallery.

Dr. Rennie co-founded Walls On Walls with visual artist Laurie Nouchka, an ongoing collaborative research project creating participatory site-specific audiovisual installations with communities across London. He is also a founder member of Insectotròpics, an award-winning audio-visual collective based in Barcelona. These projects exemplify his commitment to community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.