George Rahi (b 1987, Philadelphia) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Vancouver, unceded Coast Salish territories. He uses self-created and altered instruments as a method of exploring the intersections between acoustic and digital technologies, modes of listening, and spatial and architectural thinking. His work spans installation, instrument making, composition, solo + ensemble performance, and works for radio, theatre + public spaces. He has presented throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He holds an MFA from Simon Fraser University and is the recipient of the 2018 R. Murray Schafer Soundscape award.
contact: info (at) georahi.com
education
2019 MFA, Simon Fraser, School for the Contemporary Arts
2011 BA. Honours, University of British Columbia
selected performances + installations
2022 The Future of Landscape, Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid
2022 Mirabell Gardens, Institute for New Music, Salzburg
2022 Open Ears Festival, Trillium Lutheran Church, Kitchener
2022 Vancouver New Music, Pacific Spirit United Church
2021 Wonderment Festival, Garden City Electronic Music Society, Victoria
2020 Kunst-Station Sankt Peter, AGGREGATE concert series, Köln, Germany
2019 Electro-Acoustic Music Festival, Osaka University of Arts, Japan
2019 Modulus Festival, Music on Main, Vancouver, Canada
2019 In-Vitro: Artificial Sonification Exhibition, Matera, Italy
2019 Regenerative Feedback Festival, WORM, Rotterdam
2019 Fusebox Festival, Austin, USA
2019 Jogjakarta Noise Festival, Indonesia
2019 Pacific Spirit United Church, Vancouver, Canada
2018 Canadian Music Centre, Toronto, Canada
2018 SPEKTRUM, Berlin, Germany
2018 Global Composition, Darmstadt, Germany
2017 Western Front, Vancouver, Canada
2017 VIVO Media Arts Centre, Vancouver, Canada
2017 World New Music Days, International Society for Contemporary Music, Vancouver
2017 Barnett Hall with UBC Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, UBC, Vancouver
2016 Mechanical Music Festival, Vancouver New Music, Vancouver
2016 Big Joy Festival, Vancouver
2016 Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver
2016 Bass Piano Concert Series, Western Front, Vancouver
awards
2022 Lab30 Festival Audience Award, Augsburg
2020 Canada Council for the Arts Guest of Honour, Frankfurt
2019 British Columbia Arts Council, Early Career Development Award
2018 R. Murray Schafer Soundscape Award
2018 Glenfraser Endowment Research Award in Acoustic Communication
2018 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Award
2017 Simon Fraser University Service Award
2016 British Columbia Arts Council, Media Arts Grant
residencies
2023 AIR-Artist in Residence Niederösterreich, Krems, Austria
2022 Lobe Spatial Sound Studio, Vancouver
2022 hcma architecture, Vancouver
2021 Locus Sonus Research Group, Aix Marseille University
2019 EMS (Elektronmusik Studion), Stockholm
2019 Roundhouse Centre for the Arts, Vancouver
2019 Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Denpasar
2017 Beyond Spectacle, SFU Institute for the Humanities
2015 Hadden Park Fieldhouse, Vancouver Park Board (2015–18)
talks + presentations
2023 Instruments, Interfaces, Infrastructures, Harvard University Department of Music
2022 FutureStops Festival, Toronto
2022 Rocky Mountain Balinese Gamelan Festival, Denver
2019 Modulus Festival, Music on Main, Vancouver
2018 Sound Thinking Symposium, Surrey Art Gallery
2017 Colloquium Series, Simon Fraser School for the Contemporary Arts
2015 Guest Lecture, World Music Program, Djavad Mowafaghian Art Centre, SFU