Matthew Burtner

Matthew Burtner is the Eleanor Shea Professor of Music at the University of Virginia, where he serves as Director of Graduate Studies and Co-Director of the Coastal Future Conservatory. He maintains dual affiliations with the Music Department and the Environmental Thought and Practice (ETP) program, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach that bridges composition, technology, and ecological awareness.

Burtner's research explores embodiment, ecology, polytemporality and noise through innovative compositional frameworks. His work pioneers what might be termed 'ecoacoustic' practices that translate environmental processes into musical forms, particularly focusing on glacial systems and climate change phenomena. He has developed unique methodologies for transforming scientific data about melting glaciers and shifting ecosystems into immersive musical experiences that engage both scientific and artistic communities.

His creative output demonstrates an evolving trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated integrations of real-time environmental data, interactive technologies, and musical expression. Recent works show growing complexity in how cryospheric phenomena are translated into musical structures, with increasing emphasis on audience participation through systems like his 'Nomads' audience interaction platform. Burtner's compositions span chamber music, telematic opera, interactive installations, and field recordings, all unified by their environmental focus and technological innovation.

• Emmy Award for 'Composing Music with Snow and Glaciers' (2020)
• IDEA Award for telematic opera 'Auksalaq'
• National Endowment for the Arts Award for 'The Ceiling Floats Away'
• International honors from Musica Nova (Czech Republic)
• International honors from Bourges (France)
• International honors from Gaudeamus (Netherlands)
• International honors from Darmstadt (Germany)
• International honors from The Russolo (Italy)

Burtner advises doctoral students through the Composition and Computer Technologies program at UVA and has secured significant grant support for his interdisciplinary work, including from the National Endowment for the Arts. His creative research consistently involves collaborations between musicians, climate scientists, and technologists, supported by funding that recognizes the innovative intersection of these fields. His work has been featured by NASA, PBS NewsHour, the American Geophysical Union, and National Geographic, demonstrating its relevance across scientific and artistic domains.

He founded and directs EcoSono, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental sound art and research. Through EcoSono and the Coastal Future Conservatory, Burtner leads initiatives that bring together artists, scientists, and communities to address environmental challenges through creative practice. His Mobile Interactive Computer Ensemble (MICE) represents an innovative approach to performance technology that has influenced both his teaching methodology and creative output, emphasizing distributed networks and environmental responsiveness in musical performance.