Biography
Michael Trommer is a Toronto-based producer, sound designer, and sound artist; his experimental work has been focused primarily on psychogeographical and acoustemological explorations via the use of field recordings, infra- and ultrasound, as well as multi-channel installation and expanded video techniques.
He has released material on an unusually diverse roster of labels, both under his own name as well as 'sans soleil'. These include Transmat, Wave, Ultra-red, and/OAR, Audiobulb, Audio Gourmet, Gruenrekorder, Impulsive Habitat, Stasisfield, Serein, Flaming Pines, 3leaves, Unfathomless, and con-v. His audio-visual installation work has been exhibited at Australia’s ‘Liquid Architecture’ festival, Kunsthalle Schirn in Frankfurt, Cordoba’s art: tech and Köln’s soundLAB, among others.
Michael has performed extensively in North America, Europe, and Asia, including events with members of Berlin's raster-noton collective, as well as the 2008 and 2013 editions of Mutek's acclaimed a/visions series. He also regularly improvises with Toronto-based AI audio-visual collective 'i/o media'.
His sound design work encompasses composition, audio branding, installation and VR audio for clients such as Moment Factory, Intel, and Yahoo, as well as soundtrack and production development for a variety of international cinema, dance and installation artists.
In addition to teaching sound design at George Brown, he also a professor of English, sound design and design at OCAD University, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Cinema and Media Arts at York University.
Academic Credentials
BFA, Visual Arts, York University, 1990
MFA, Interdisciplinary Art, Media and Design, OCAD University, 2015
PhD Candidate, Cinema and Media Arts, York University
Areas of Specialization
Sound Design
Areas of Expertise
Sound Design
Experimental Video
Field Recording
Sound Installation
Expanded Video
Video Installation
Live Cinema
VR Sound
Career Highlights
Sound Design Theory and Sound Art Instructor, George Brown College, Toronto
Sound Design Instructor, OCAD University, Toronto
Think Tank Instructor, OCAD University, Toronto
English for Art and Design (EAD) Coordinator and Instructor, OCAD University, Toronto
Other Activities
Freelance Sound Designer, Recent clients include:
Moment Factory: Interactive kiosk concept; sound design and conceptual development.
OCAD University SFI Lab: NaturePod virtual environment and audio-visual pod. Sound design and conceptual development.
Intel: HPC High-powered Audio Computer. VR and sound design, conceptual development.
Vidibox: iPad video mashup app demo for Sonàr Festival, Barcelona, Spain.