Margaret Mara Helmuth (born 1957) is an American composer. She studied at the

University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United States. Established in 1867, it is the fo ...

, and then continued her studies at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, graduating with a doctorate in music. After completing her education, Helmuth took a position teaching at the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati, informally Cincy) is a public university, public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1819 and had an enrollment of over 53,000 students in 2024, making it the ...

and became director of the university's Center for Computer Music. She has published professional articles in ''Audible Traces'', ''Analytical Methods of Electroacoustic Music'', the ''

Journal of New Music Research ''Journal of New Music Research'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on musicology (including music theory), philosophy, psychology, acoustics, computer science, engineering, and other disciplines. Articles deal with theory, anal ...

'' and ''

Perspectives of New Music ''Perspectives of New Music'' (PNM) is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in music theory Music theory is the study of theoretical frameworks for understanding the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Musi ...

''. She was a co-editor of the

Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States The Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) is a nonprofit US-based organization founded in 1984 that aims to promote the performance, creation, and research of electro-acoustic music in the United States. SEAMUS ( ) com ...

' newsletter along with Sylvia Pengilly and Sally Johnston Reid from 1995 to 1996.

Works

Helmuth is known for

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

. She composes for fixed format and also creates interactive installations. Selected works include: *''Mellipse'' (1989, 1995) *''Abandoned Lake in Maine'' (1997) *''Bugs and Ice: A Question of Focus'' (2002) *''Where Is My Voice'', for fixed format audio *''Hidden Mountain'' (2007) *''Staircase of Light'' (2003) *''Hidden Mountain 2'', interactive multimedia and wireless-sensor-based installation Her work has been recorded and issued on CD, including: *''Sound Collaborations, v. 36'' of the Consortium to Distribute Computer Music Series, Centaur Records *''Implements of Actuation'' collaborations with percussionist-composer Allen Otte,

Electronic Music Foundation Electronic Music Foundation (EMF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that produces events, publishes and disseminates media and information, and provides access to materials relevant to the history and creative potential of electronic music ...

*''Open Space CD 16'' music for tape

References

1957 births Living people 20th-century American classical composers American women music educators American women classical composers University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign School of Music alumni Columbia University School of the Arts alumni University of Cincinnati faculty American women in electronic music Experimental Music Studios alumni 20th-century American women composers Centaur Records artists American women academics 21st-century American women {{US-composer-20thC-stub