Michael Winter

Curriculum Vitae

mwinter@unboundedpress.org  ·  +49.176.6807.2118  ·  https://unboundedpress.org

Education

PhD in Media Arts and TechnologyUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, 2010
MFA in Music CompositionCalifornia Institute of the Arts, Valencia, 2005
BS in Music TechnologyUniversity of Oregon, Eugene, 2003

Teaching

Gustav Mahler Privatuniversität für MusikUniversity Professor of Sound and Intermedia
Mar 2025 – Present
Subjects and courses: Sound Art and Intermedia, Experimental Music Workshop, Musicology Seminar, History of Tuning Systems, Sound and Intermedia curricula (launching Winter 2026)
Activities and Responsibilities: Develop sound and intermedia program, aid in development and launch of doctoral program, conduct artistic research, organize events, advise theses, equip and steward artistic research laboratory
Committees: Chair - Arbeitskreis für Gleichbehandlung (committee for equal treatment); Member - Studienkommission (curricula review committee); Member - Folep (artistic research direction of the university)
Events: NOISE SILENCE ACTION (Concert), Intentional and Random (Concert), Embodied Differences (Workshop), The Between Things (Forum)
Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)International Visiting Professor
Feb 2020 – Dec 2020
Subjects and courses: Acoustic ecologies and sound art, computer music, epistemology
Activities and Responsibilities: Organized invited guests for weekly seminars, led and moderated discussion, a publication on the ethics of access in higher education
University of Southern CaliforniaUSC Brain Project Lead Developer
Jan 2014 – Aug 2016
Subjects and courses: Neural networks, computational neuromodelling
Activities and Responsibilities: Helped develop and teach the neuroinformatics track of an AI course, assisted with doctoral student projects
The Art Institute of California, HollywoodInstructor
Jun 2010 – Apr 2011
Subjects and courses: Interactive design, game theory, digital audio workstations, sound design and synthesis, Python, HTML, CSS, history of electronic music
Activities and Responsibilities: Curriculum development, grading, faculty and student administration
University of California, Santa BarbaraTeaching Assistant
Aug 2007 – Apr 2008
Subjects and courses: Digital architecture, philosophy of art, sound design and synthesis, composition, Java, motion detection, immersive environments, history of electronic music
Activities and Responsibilities: Lab and studio management, grading
University of Virginia, CharlottesvilleTeaching Assistant
Aug 2006 – May 2007
Subjects and courses: Digital audio workstations, sound design and synthesis, composition, history of electronic music
Activities and Responsibilities: Lab and studio management, grading
California Institute of the ArtsTeaching Assistant
Aug 2003 – May 2005
Subjects and courses: Digital audio workstations, sound design and synthesis, composition, history of electronic music
Activities and Responsibilities: Lab and studio management, grading

Publications

Haros Families
with Borot, G. forthcoming.
A simplicity bubble problem in formal-theoretic learning systems
with Abrahão, F., Zenil, H., Porto, F., Wehmuth, K. and D'Ottaviano, I. forthcoming.
Tom Johnson and a Rational Theory of Harmony
Journal of Mathematics and Music. volume 20.Taylor & Francis. 2026.
A simplicity bubble problem and zemblanity in digitally intermediated societies
with Abrahão, F., Cavassane, R., Rodrigues, M. and D'Ottaviano, I. Model-Based Reasoning, Abductive Cognition, Creativity. Springer Nature Switzerland. 2024.
hidden gems: a few important ideas by C/K_l_r_n_e B_rl_w
with Lach Lau, J.S. GMEA. 2023.
Evolving curricula: reflections on The Quarantine Seminars
with Dantas, P. Unbounded Press. 2020.
Meta+phenomenology: primer towards a phenomenology formally based on algorithmic information theory and metabiology
Unravelling Complexity: Life and Work of Gregory Chaitin. editors Doria, F. and Wuppuluri, S. World Scientific. 2020.
Liner notes to the album the yggdrasil-soli by Ulrich Krieger
Winds Measures Recordings. 2020.
A few more thoughts about Leibniz: the prediction of harmonic distance in harmonic space (with text to preliminary thoughts)
MusMat: Brazilian Journal of Music and Mathematics. volume 3. 2019.
steady state: a study in taxation
nY. editors Vriezen, S. volume 38. 2019.
liner notes to the album Changes by James Tenney
with Polansky, L. New World Records. 2019.
On minimal change musical morphologies
The Musical-Mathematical Mind. editors Pareyon, G., Pina-Romero, S., Agustin-Aquino, O.A., and Lluis-Puebla, E. Springer. 2017.
Liner notes to the album Three Pieces for Two Pianos by Larry Polansky
New World Records. 2016.
From Scratch: Writings in Music Theory
Tenney, J. editors Polansky, L., Pratt, L., Wannamaker, R., and Winter, M. University of Illinois Press. 2015.
Approximating Omega
Carbono (online). volume 7. 2014.
Chordal and timbral morphologies using Hamiltonian cycles
with Akhmedov, A. Journal of Mathematics and Music. volume 8. 2014.
Relativity and scalability with respect to sound and silence
Word Events: Perspectives on Verbal Notation. editors Lely, J. and Saunders, M. Bloomsbury. 2012.
A few more words about James Tenney: dissonant counterpoint and statistical feedback
with Polansky, L. and Barnett, A. Journal of Mathematics and Music. volume 5. 2011.
Notes on a new economics for a new music
Experimental Music Yearbook (online). volume 2. 2010.
LiveScore: real–time notation in the music of Harris Wulfson
with Barrett, G.D. Contemporary Music Review. volume 29. 2010.
Structural Metrics: an epistemology
Dissertation. 2010.
James Tenney: Selected Works 1961–1969 (review)
Journal of the Society for American Music. volume 4. 2010.
James Tenney biographical entry
with Hanson, S., Streb, C., and Polansky, L. Grove Dictionary of American Music. Oxford University Press. 2009.
On James Tenney's Arbor Vitae for string quartet
Contemporary Music Review. volume 27. 2008.
Mavericks on mavericks: James Tenney’s last courses at CalArts
MusikTexte. volume 112. 2007.
Automatic Notation Generators
with Barrett, G.D. and Wulfson, H. Proceedings of the 7th International NIME Conference.  2007.

Lectures

2026
Orpheus Institute, Ghent
Complexity, memory, power: on the cultural and societal impact of resonating artistic-research methodologies
2025
Gustav Mahler Privatuniversität für Musik, Klagenfurt
Meta+phenomenology I: a taxonomy of learning experiences
IACAP/AISB Conference @ University of Twente, Enchede
Meta+phenomenology I: a taxonomy of learning experiences
2024
Gustav Mahler Privatuniversität für Musik, Klagenfurt
Contextualizing the sirenComplexity, memory, power: on the cultural and societal impact of resonating artistic-research methodologies
Mozarteum, Salzburg
Contextualizing the sirenComplexity, memory, power: on the cultural and societal impact of resonating artistic-research methodologies
Chintete @ Cantina La Dominica, CDMX
A brief but not necessarily abbreviated history of the domino problem
2023
Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Rīga
A few more thoughts on modulations in harmonic space
MPLab, Liepajā
Countercoding: a few thoughts about data ethics and music (or... are your algorithms healthy? - part III)
B-Circle, Berlin
A brief but not necessarily abbreviated history of the domino problem
Centro Nacional de las Artes, Mexico City (with Alex Bruck)
Workshop on Microtonal Practices (5 sessions)
2022
Institut für Mikroelektronik Stuttgart
Challenges of Analog Visual Cryptography: a history of the domino problem
B-Circle, Berlin (with Catherine Lamb)
Total forms and other totalities
Institute of Sonology @ the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
Countercoding: a few thoughts about data ethics and music (or... are your algorithms healthy? - part II)
California Institute of the Arts
Countercoding: a few thoughts about data ethics and music (or... are your algorithms healthy? - part I)
2020
University of California, Santa Cruz
A few things I do
Simpom 6 @ UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro
A few more thoughts about Leibniz: the prediction of harmonic distance in harmonic space
2019
ELAK, course for electroacoustic and experimental music @ the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien
This is a talk about how things fit together
Trinity College, London (with Robert Blatt)
This talk has a high chance of failure: performer, score, environment, and listener as algorithmic systems
Guildhall School of Music, London (with Robert Blatt)
This talk has a high chance of failure: performer, score, environment, and listener as algorithmic systems
Instituto Internacional en Madrid
This is a talk about how things fit together
Apotheose Series @ Eckartshaldenweg 7, Stuttgart
Artist conversation (with afterparty at Korridor Bar, Stuttgart with DJ Silent Lover)
Engaging with Histories Festival @ Rampe, Stuttgart
A prehistory of the domino problem (lecture / performance)
2018
Haifa University
On modulations in harmonic space
2017
The Box, Los Angeles
On James Tenney’s Changes for six harps
California Institute of the Arts
On James Tenney’s Changes for six harps
Institución Universitaria Bellas Artes, Cartagena
Minimalismo conceptual y la verdad sobre el ruido
Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin
Minimalismo conceptual y la verdad sobre el ruido
Fundación Universitaria Bellas Artes Medellín
Un nuevo virtuosidad
Universidad de los Andes, Bogota
Shape and Structure: a few good ideas on form and detail
Chawpi Laboratorio, Quito
Minimalismo conceptual y la verdad sobre el ruido
Universidad de las Artes de Guayaquil
Cuando cosas va diferente: entre el concepto y la realidad
Sono Centro Cultural de Cuenca
La Guitarra en la Experimentacion Sonora
2016
Università degli Studi di Torino
Over 300 years ago, Leibniz predicted many current trends in music: a lecture / performance
Universität der Künste Berlin
From Leibniz to Tenney: on computability, structure, and harmony
University of Leeds
From Leibniz to Tenney: on computability, structure, and harmony
University of Huddersfield
Over 300 years ago, Leibniz predicted many current trends in music: a lecture / performance
Bath Spa University
On the domain of an open work: cardinality, intersection, and computabilityOn minimal resources, laziness, and style
Conservatorio de las Rosas, Morelia
On minimal resources, laziness, and style
CENIDIM - Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, Mexico City
Over 300 years ago, Leibniz predicted many current trends in music: a lecture / performance
Universidad de Guadalajara
Combinatorial optimization and art: from Leibniz to Beckett and beyond
California Institute of the Arts
On minimal resources, laziness, and style
University of California Santa Cruz
On minimal resources, laziness, and style
2015
Computer Music Hangout at the Public School, Los Angeles
Graph theory, harmonic space, and combinatorics
University of Southern California
On James Tenney’s Changes for six harps
California Institute of the Arts
A few ways to get from one thing to the next
Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, Mexico City
Noise in the system: reading Claude Shannon
2014
Conservatorio de Las Rosas, Morelia
New music for guitars
Universidad de Chile, Santiago
Algorithmic Information Theory, Metabiology, Music
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Algorithmic Information Theory, Metabiology, Music
Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso
Algorithmic Information Theory, Metabiology, Music
Universidade de São Paulo
Shape and Structure: a few good ideas on form and detail
Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná
On community and radicality: a personal survey of dangerous artists and art movements
University of California, Santa Cruz
Several extremely simple ideas
University of California, Santa Barbara
Adapting and applying digital signal processing techniques to high-level music information
2013
Workshop for Algorithmic Computer Music at University of California, Santa Cruz
A few thoughts on musical structureJames Tenney's computer music
Dartmouth College
Where do you get your data from?The computer in my life
2011
Wesleyan University
My software thinks your software is beautiful: a few words about metabiology, beauty and music
University of California, Santa Cruz
A few words on elegance, creativity and beauty
Dartmouth College
On James Tenney’s Changes for six harpsThree Ideas: 1) sometimes I steal, sometimes I don’t, and sometimes I think I am not stealing but actually am; 2) some thoughts on generalizing graphs and mathematical problems from musical ideas; 3) music, structural metrics and algorithmic information theory
IRCAM, Paris
On generalizing graphs and mathematical problems from musical ideas
2009
California Institute of the Arts
Structural metrics
2008
Columbia University
On James Tenney’s Arbor Vitae for string quartet
2006
State University of New York, Buffalo
Lecture on the machine and music
2005
State University of New York, Binghamton
Lecture on infinity

Relevant Work

Max Planck Institute for the History of SciencesResearch Scholar, IT Architect
Mar 2022 – May 2023
Project: Oral Histories in Biomedicine
Activities and Responsibilities: Digital humanities specialist, development and deployment of digital collection platform for oral histories, database and website scraping, Big Data management, website and server deployment and administration, code repository management and version control, close collaboration with philosophers, historians, and library sciences researchers
the wulf.Co-founder, Co-director (until 2018), President of the Board of Directors
Aug 2008 – Present
Project: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that presents free experimental music performances
Activities and Responsibilities: Organizing regular public events in experimental arts; grant writing; audio archive development and maintenance; Python/Django website and server development and maintenance; interfacing with artists, charitable organizations, educational institutions, and private and public partners; managing staff, interns, and volunteers; code repository management and version control; designing governance and policy structure of the organization
University of Southern CaliforniaUSC Brain Project Lead Developer
Jan 2014 – Aug 2016
Project: Neuroinformatics platform connecting large datasets to promote cross-discipline collaborations
Activities and Responsibilities: Python/Django development integrating and federating databases of linguistics, primate behavior, and computational neuromodels; database and website scraping; Big Data management; automated video tagging; website and server deployment and administration, code repository management and version control; daily meetings with doctoral candidates in Computational Neuromodeling assisting with individual projects
Wolfram ResearchResearch Programmer and Consultant
Jun 2012 – Aug 2016
Project: Signal processing core system development
Activities and Responsibilities: Designing and implementing a real-time audio system for the Wolfram Language, weekly team meetings with the Signal Processing Group, code repository management and version control
Wolfram AlphaResearch Programmer
Apr 2011 – Jun 2012
Project: Wolfram computational knowledge engine
Activities and Responsibilities: Domain expert for Music, database and website scraping, Big Data management, natural language processing and curation, code repository management and version control, weekly meetings with the Arts and Humanities development and curation teams
Music MastermindDeveloper and Consultant
Jun 2008 – Jul 2009
Project: Game engine for generating music
Activities and Responsibilities: Designing and implementing algorithmic tools for automatic music creation, implementing Hidden Markov Models in Java, code repository management and version control, weekly meetings with development team

Recordings

Solo Albums
some pieces with sustained sounds one of which is punctuated every once in a while with other soundsa wave press. Cassette Tape. forthcoming.
Counterfeiting in Colonial Connecticut / a lot of tiles (trivial scan)XI Records. CD. 2022.
single trackAnother Timbre. CD. 2021.
preliminary thoughtsTsonami Records. CD. 2018.
preliminary thoughtsBánh Mì Verlag. Cassette Tape. 2018.
lower limit: music for plucked stringsNew World Records. CD. 2018.
Approximating OmegaEdition Wandelweiser Records. CD. 2017.
Compilation Albums
west coast soundingsEdition Wandelweiser Records. CD. 2014.
featuring small world
roundsthe wulf. records. Vinyl. 2013.
featuring welcome round for larry
Music of Ostrava Days 2009 LiveOstrava Center for New Music. CD. 2009.
featuring recitation, code, and (perhaps) round
DIY CanonsPogus Productions. CD. 2005.
featuring Filter IV P.I.X.L. Study No. 1

Residencies and Awards

Creative Europe Programme of the European Union/Goethe-Institut Culture Moves Europe Grant, EU2023
Musikfonds Grant (STIP-III), Germany2023
ADK Initial 2 Grant, Germany2022
GEMA Artist Grant, Germany2022
Akademie Schloss Solitude, Germany2018–2019
GoctaLab, Peru2016
La Paternal Espacio Proyecto, Argentina2014
Foundation for Contemporary Arts, USA2014
Wolfram Alpha, USA2014
Atlantic Center for the Arts, USA2009
Ostrava New Music Days, Czech Republic2007 and 2009

Coding and Development Skills

SuperCollider, Arduino, Python, JavaScript, Lilypond, Java, Mathematica, CAD (OpenSCAD), CSS, HTML, MySQL, NoSQL, AI, Big Data, Coding Agents, 3D Prototyping and Printing, Physical Computing, Instrument Design

Language Skills

English – fluent; Spanish – advanced; German – conversational

References

Curtis RoadsProfessor of Media Arts and Technology, University of California, Santa Barbaraclangtint@gmail.com
Amy BealProfessor of Musicology, University of California, Santa Cruzabeal@ucsc.edu
Juan Sebastián Lach LauProfessor of Composition, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Morelialachjs@gmail.com