John Young

John Young is a Professor of Composition at De Montfort University, affiliated with the Leicester Media School within the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media. He is a leading figure in electroacoustic and acousmatic music, with a strong research profile centered on sound transformation, narrative construction, and multi-channel audio environments. He is actively involved in the Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre (MTIRC) and has held significant leadership roles, including Head of Research (2009–2012) and Director of the Graduate School (2014–2017).

• PhD in Musicology, University of Canterbury (1990)
• MusB(Hons)

John Young's research focuses on the creative use of sound recording, spectral composition, narrative in music, and the integration of historical and environmental sound sources into electroacoustic works. His compositions often merge real-world sound imagery with abstract sonic materials, creating immersive, imaginative experiences. He explores formal scale, spectromorphology, and the role of source recognition in acousmatic music, contributing both artistically and theoretically to the field.

His recent artistic output includes major works such as Le Chant en Dehors (2022), SoundPlay (2021), and Red Sky (2015), alongside multi-channel installations like Sun Deck Set Cogitation (2023). His publications span both creative outputs and scholarly articles, with Scaling Form (2024) offering deep insights into formal design in acousmatic music. The works frequently engage with oral histories, poetry, and interdisciplinary collaboration, reflecting a broad and evolving artistic vision.

• 2022: First Prize, Prix Francis-Dhomont (Le Chant en dehors)
• 2022: Audience Prize, Destellos Competition (Arioso)
• 2021: First Prize, Musica Nova (SoundPlay)
• 2020: First Prize, Musica Nova (Abwesenheit)
• 2019: First Prize, Klang! Competition (Three Spaces in Mid-Air)
• 2010: Euphonie d’Or, Bourges (Ricordiamo Forlì)
• 2007: First Prize, Bourges Competition (Ricordiamo Forlì)

John Young supervises postgraduate research students including Eddie Clijsen, Cristiana Palandri, Katie-Jane Howard, and Sol Andersson. His research has been supported by external grants from Arts Council England and the Arts and Humanities Research Council, funding projects such as Red Sky and the DVD-A release Lieu-temps / Of Time and Place. He welcomes students working in electroacoustic composition, spectral music, narrative in sound, and related areas. He has presented keynotes and papers internationally, including at Oxford, IRCAM, and Bournemouth University.

John Young is affiliated with the Music, Technology and Innovation Research Centre (MTIRC) at DMU, where he collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving sound, technology, and innovation. His work often involves immersive audio installations and collaborations with poets, visual artists, and historians, reflecting a deeply integrated creative-research practice.