‘Sonic Art’ is a new event produced by the Cooroora Institute featuring internationally
acclaimed composer Gerardo Dirie and dynamic interdisciplinary artist Leah Barclay.
The event will commence at 3pm on Sunday August 23rd at the Cooroora Institute’s outdoor
stage with an immersive program of sonic art between rainforest and organic gardens. This
concert features the premiere of “Seven Steps” by Gerardo Dirie and “Nakshatra: Divisions of
the Sky” by Leah Barclay – two electroacoustic works that will feature at the New Zealand
National Electroacoustic Music Symposium in September 2009. The composers will be present
to perform and discuss the works with an intimate audience in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
“Sonic Art” will also include performances from Barclay’s recent Sunshine Coast projects
including works from Floating Land Static Architecture and a preview of the Soundscapes she is currently working on for the Catchment project

Gerardo Dirie

Born in Cordoba, Argentina, composer Gerardo Dirié is also an accomplished conductor,
performer, and educator. As a composer, he has had many acclaims and performances in the
United States, Latin America and Europe. In July 1994, he was a prize winner in the National
Tribune of Electroacoustic Music in Argentina. As a result, his piece Tu casa o este océano
was selected for performance at the 1994 International Tribune of Electroacoustic Music in
Paris and at the International Tribune of Composers (UNESCO) in Finland. His choral work
Canto de Amores Entre Ausencias won the Honorary Mention in the NISSIM ASCAP
International Composition Competition in 1993. In 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996 he was
distinguished with the Standard Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers for the performance of his compositions. This included the performances of Puerto
de Cántaros by the Cosmopolitan Symphony Orchestra with Tania Leon conducting, in Town
Hall, New York; Two Impromptus for two pianos, in Caracas, Venezuela; El baile del quinto día
for solo violin in Spain; and a retrospective concert of his music for soloists and live electronics
performed by The Hueco Ensemble in Manhattan. During the most recent years his music has
also been performed in India, Malaysia, Turkey, Colombia, Venezuela, Belgium, Germany, and
Denmark.
During 1992 and 1993, he served as Associate Artist for the Indiana Repertory Theatre. He
was on the designers' team and has written the music for five stage productions: "Yerma", "The
Cherry Orchard", "A Thousand Cranes", "Much Ado About Nothing" , and "The Magnificent
Ambersons." Highly favorable comments on the impact of his music have appeared in The New
York Times , The Milwaukee Journal , Huizmuziek of The Netherlands, and La Voz del Interior
of Argentina. His essays and poetry have been published by Pauta magazine in Mexico,
McGraw Hill in New York, and Huizmuziek, in The Netherlands.
Dirié holds Master and Doctor in Music Composition degrees from Indiana University, where he
studied with John Eaton and Eugene O'Brien. He came to Indiana University from Argentina in
1987 after receiving a Fulbright Fellowship and Monica Mourier Archibald Grant to study
composition. Prior to coming to Indiana, he attended the Universidad Nacional de Cordoba,
Argentina, studying composition with Atilio Argüello, Oscar Bazán, and César Franchisena.
During this time he was also awarded the International Encounters in Contemporary Music
Grant to study Contemporary Choral Music Conducting Techniques in Buenos Aires, as well as
the Fondo Nacional de las Artes Grant to study Music and Mathematics. Gerardo Dirié is
currently Head of Music Studies at the Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane, Australia.
www.gerardodirie.net

Leah Barclay

Leah Barclay has been recognised as one of the most promising Australian composers of her
generation. Since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium, she has performed,
published and produced commissioned works across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe
and India.
Her current work explores hybrid media and experimental sonic languages fusing the
spontaneity of live performance with the infinite possibilities of technology. Reviews such as
“innovation with veracity”, “dynamic originality” and “firing curiosity” have often been associated
with her performances.
Her dynamic work has resulted in numerous awards, including the inaugural Premier of
Queensland's National New Media Art Scholarship, Australia’s most prestigious prize for digital
media art. She has studied with a range of international artists including Alcides Lanza and
Yves Daoust in Montreal, Quebec, Stephen Leek and John Coulter in Australia and is currently
completing her PhD under the supervision of Gerardo Dirie and Huib Schippers at Griffith
University.
Barclay maintains a hectic touring schedule with future events confirmed in India, Australia,
Turkey, Spain, Canada, USA and New Zealand. She will finish the year with a three month
Asialink Residency at Art Centre Nabi in Soeul, South Korea where she will create a new work
for intercultural ensemble and live electronics to premiere in December 2009 before returning
to Australia for Woodfood Folk Festival. 2010 includes a three month tour of India with the
Nada Laya Ensemble and the launch of “Cypress Trilogy” and “Sound Mirrors” in Australia
along with a string of commissions and collaborative projects.
www.leahbarclay.com