Yumi Hara Cawkwell

Dr Yumi Hara Cawkwell is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Music, Writing & Performance in School of Arts and Creative Industries at University of East London. As a composer, improviser, and performer, she works across piano, harp, voice, and clavichord.

• Specializes in avant-garde/experimental rock and RIO (Rock in Opposition) movements
• Known for collaborations with notable musicians from Soft Machine, Henry Cow, Gong, and faUSt
• Active in both contemporary classical and experimental rock scenes

Research Interests: Her work focuses on musical improvisation, composition, and performance with particular emphasis on:

• Complex rhythmic structures and polymeter applications
• Cultural identity in diaspora musical practices
• Hybridization of ethnic and western instruments
• Memory and transcription in avant-garde contexts

Recent Outputs: 2023 album Groove Study explores odd meter applications in dance music, while 2017 conference presentation on Lindsay Cooper's compositions highlights her interest in feminist musicology.

Awards & Professional Involvement:

• 2006 British Composer Awards finalist
• Committee member, Ivors Composer Awards (British Composer Awards)
• Board member, JASMIM (Japanese Association for the Study of Musical Improvisation) 2015-2017
• Panel chair, Improvisation research at international conferences

Teaching: Leads modules in music performance, production techniques, and collaborative projects at University of East London.