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Leonardo Electronic Directory

Kirsty Beilharz

     Kirsty Beilharz
     Key Centre of Design
     Computing and Cognition
     Wilkinson Building G04
     University of Sydney
     UNSW 2006 AUSTRALIA
     Website: http://
     www.arch.usyd.edu.au/~kirsty

Dr. Kirsty Beilharz is an Academic in the Key Centre of Design Computing & Cognition at the University of Sydney. Dr. Beilharz is the Coordinator of the Digital Media Graduate Program in the School of Architecture, Design Science and Planning. Her teaching areas include: interactive multimedia design, web site design, advanced interaction design and digital media design studio. Beilharz's research focuses include: virtual environment user interface design; design creativity and cognition, improvisatory and predictive design agents; semantic-based intelligent 3D virtual environments for architecture; interfacing virtual and physical environments and interdisciplinary generative design processes (in architecture, maths and music). Beilharz is a composer and violinist. Her music scores and recordings, articles and design have been published internationally and her music is performed widely in Australia, Europe, Canada, the USA and Asia. Beilharz completed her Ph.D at the University of Sydney, where she has taught for a number of years, and she conducted post-doctoral studies at the University of York (UK) and in Europe. Her particular interest is the synergistic integration of design and artforms: interactive digital media and installation works combining sound and digital visual arts.

Installations, multimedia and music theatre works include Floriferous Multimedia (2001, "CrossTalk" exhibition - Tin Sheds Gallery & 2002, Creativity and Cognition 4 Conference, University of Loughborough Gallery, U.K.) and The White Face of the Geisha / Das weiße Gesicht der Geisha for shakuhachi and ensemble (1999, Ensemble Recherche Freiberg, Biennale Neue Musik Hannover 1999).

Beilharz's musical compositions have been internationally performed by ensembles including Sydney Symphony Orchestra (2002, Vortex; 1992, Plutonium), Ensemble Recherche Freiberg (1999, White Face of the Geisha), Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Montréal, Québec (1998, Burning in the Heart of the Void), Western Australian Symphony Orchestra Twentieth Century Ensemble (1998, Fires That Burn in the Heart of the Void), Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (1997, spirale ...a guisa di spira), New Music Ensemble of the Sweelinck Conservatory, Amsterdam (1996, Between Five Bells), Chantarelle String Quartet (1998, Like a Gorgon's Head), Australian Computer Music Association (1995, Voice of the Forest), Coruscations (1995, Between Five Bells), The Seymour Group (1993, Nuances; 1997, Objeu Doré; 1992, Multiplexus; 1989, Torque 2) Contemporary Singers (1993, Uluru), Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir (1993, Uluru), AustraLYSIS (1992, Earth Essence), and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1992, Plutonium).

Awards include: (2003) University of Sydney Faculty of Architecture - Special Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching; (2003) Symphony Australia - Award for Best Performance of Australian Contemporary Music in APRA / AMC Australian Classical Music Awards for Vortex; (2002) Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition; (1999) 2nd Prize Biennale Neue Musik Hannover; (1999) ABC Australian under 30 representative for Paris Rostrum; (1998) Charles Mackerras / Australia-Britain Society Music Scholarship; (1998) Lauréate of the Jury and Prix du Public (Public Vote & International 1st Prize) - Nouvel Ensemble Moderne Forum '98, Montréal; (1998) Finalist, ABC Young Composers' Competition; (1996) Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship; (1996) Winner of the Australian Young Composers' Competition; (1996) Arts Award Category of the NSW Young Australian of the Year Award.