Joan La Barbara

About

Joan La Barbara has been exploring the human voice as a versatile instrument since the 1970s as a composer, performer, and sound artist, using her own experimental vocal techniques to expand the traditional boundaries of singing. Early on she used techniques from live electronics. She has been celebrated as a virtuoso in the field of contemporary music, and had works by artists such as John Cage and Morton Feldman dedicated to her and composed for her. On the occasion of the exhibition presenting Tomas Schmit’s early pieces, whose artistic practice was highly influenced by new music, La Barbara presents two performances of her new work In available light (2021) as well as Windows, her „sonic atmosphere“ collage created from select concert recording betweeen 2003 and 2017.

Joan La Barbara (*1947 in Philadelphia) lives and works in New York, where she is an instructor at Mannes School of Music, The New School. She received classical vocal training at Syracuse University (1965–1968) and New York University (1968–1970). In 1971 she came into contact with the avant-garde movement as a member of the Steve Reich and Musicians ensemble. Her compositions have been performed at international festivals and renowned concert halls, including Performa 13, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2013); MaerzMusik, Berlin (2012); Carnegie Hall, New York (2011). She has received numerous awards, including the John Cage Award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, New York (2016).