Jorge Variego

Jorge Variego is a Professor of Music Theory and Composition at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and serves as the composition program director at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Born in Rosario, Argentina, he is a former Fulbright Scholar whose work bridges traditional Argentine musical forms with contemporary electronic and algorithmic composition techniques.

Variego's research focuses on interactive computer music, algorithmic composition, and the fusion of jazz, tango, and experimental elements. His creative output spans academic compositions, electroacoustic works, and cross-genre collaborations that defy conventional categorization. He has pioneered interactive computer music, creating numerous works for clarinet and electronics performed internationally across the US, Europe, and South America.

His extensive publication record includes the book Composing with Constraints (Oxford University Press, 2021) and Algorithmic Composition (National University of Quilmes, 2018). His compositions appear in major catalogs including Parma, Albany Records, CMMAS, Centaur, and Naxos libraries.

His recent works demonstrate a consistent exploration of Latin American musical traditions through contemporary compositional lenses, with premieres scheduled internationally and performances by major orchestras including the Knoxville Symphony, Oak Ridge Symphony, and Orchester Liestal.

• Mentor of the Year, College of Fine Arts and Sciences (2017)
• Swedish Arts Grants Committee residency at Visby Centre (2018)
• Individual Artist Fellowship recipient in Music Composition

Variego directs the Domino Ensemble, a non-profit organization promoting new music with improvisation, and founded the UT Electroacoustic Ensemble dedicated to free improvisation with electronic media. With support from the Nora Roberts Foundation and Tennessee Arts Commission, his ensembles have led educational workshops and commissioned works from emerging composers. He is also an active member of the Society of Composers National Council.