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

University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Unive ...

, and then continued her studies at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manha ...

, 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) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...

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, ...

'' and ''

Perspectives of New Music ''Perspectives of New Music'' (PNM) is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in music theory and analysis. It was established in 1962 by Arthur Berger and Benjamin Boretz (who were its initial editors-in-chief). ''Perspectives'' was fir ...

''. 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 and creation of electro-acoustic music in the United States. In particular, the organizat ...

' newsletter along with

Sylvia Pengilly Sylvia Pengilly (born March 23, 1935) is a British-American musician and music professor. She is known for composing music by converting brain waves to electrical data that combines music with graphics. Pengilly continued lecturing and composing ...

and

Sally Johnston Reid Sally Johnston Reid (January 30, 1948 – December 21, 2019) was an American composer and oboist. Her compositions include chamber, piano, vocal, band and electroacoustic music, as well as the chamber opera ''Healing'' from 1986. A significant p ...

from 1995 to 1996.

Works

Helmuth is known for

electronic music Electronic music is a Music genre, genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or electronics, circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromech ...

. 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 classical composers American women music educators American women classical composers American 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 musicians 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American composers 20th-century women composers Centaur Records artists American women academics 21st-century American women {{US-composer-20thC-stub