Michael Gary Dean^CA/QC

Holding a Master’s degree in Musical Technology as well as a Bachelor’s in Music and Computer Sciences, Canadian composer and media artist Michael Gary Dean straddles both the avant-garde frontiers of digital art and the traditional roots of classical music. His work has been showcased internationally in a variety of formats, including film, performance and installations. In 2015, Dean started to unveil his creations during events such as MUTEK and the International Symposium on Electronic Art. Several audiovisual collaborations soon ensued, allowing Dean to showcase fully immersive films and AV performances in Surround-capable planetariums around the world. In 2017, his first opus Liquid Architecture was quickly followed by a number of new collaborations with media artist Cadie Desbiens-Desmeules (best known as Push 1 stop), namely: Membrane, a live AV performance for volumetric projectors; Frozen Music, an installation intended for massive projection surfaces; and Previz, an experimental short movie. As these past projects continue to be shown in iconic venues such as the LEV Festival, Sónar and London’s Somerset House, Dean has recently delved into Neoclassical music, releasing several albums for piano and strings following his 2020 residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Michael Gary Dean’s Forever Meditations effortlessly blends flowing Ambient electronic music with intimate instrumentation, drawing on contemplative moods and long periods of introspection. Organic and highly textural electronics simmer underneath delicate melodies and ethereal tones plucked from double bass, violin and piano. For this world premiere presented at MUTEK, the Canadian composer will be joined by double bassist Freddy Speer for a live performance that will push listeners into profoundly reflective states of listening.