welcome

〰️

welcome 〰️

~ Welcome ~

I am a Chicago-based composer, performer, and intermedia artist. My work explores the intersections of contemporary concert music, electronic and electroacoustic music, live performance, and interactive installation work.

In addition to my creative work, i also work as a freelance audio tech and teach private composition lessons.

Thanks for stopping by my website! drop me a note through my contact form with any questions, comments, or inquiries.

upcoming events

〰️

upcoming events 〰️

Photographs by Rachel Steel of the premier of Fuse at the Graham Foundation on the Lampo Series, April 2026 in Chicago, IL

VISTAS TOUR JANUARY 2026

Photos from the twinnings concert, July 2025 at the Darmstadt Festival

Photo Copyright: IMD / Kristof Lemp

concert reader: https://internationales-musikinstitut.de/en/ferienkurse/reader/twinnings/

enclosures

OUT NOW ON SAWYER EDITIONS

 

Performance Photo by Dana Jessen at Elastic Arts, March 2025.

Tuesday at the Hideout!! Solo sets by @zanderraymond, me and DJ Shivani💥💥💥 Come hang🤍
Tuesday at the Hideout!! Solo sets by @zanderraymond, me and DJ Shivani💥💥💥 Come hang🤍
𝘈 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, composed by Kari Watson in collaboration with mezzo Rosie Middleton, is a 45-minute monodrama for singer, electronics and video. Full piece coming fall 2026✨ This teaser features footage from a concert at @iklectikartlab at the end of our R&D residency back in January.💛
So excited to be featured with @kllyshhn in Hannah Edgar’s write up for the @chicagotribune previewing this years @frequency_festival_chicago_ ⭐️ full article link in bio! Our concert with @jetorrence kicks off the festival on a program with @
So excited to be featured with @kllyshhn in Hannah Edgar’s write up for the @chicagotribune previewing this years @frequency_festival_chicago_ ⭐️ full article link in bio! Our concert with @jetorrence kicks off the festival on a program with @tristanperich on Feb.24 @constellationchicago
Excerpt from duo set with @gau.laurence @parlouramsterdam.love in January💙 was such an amazing show, so grateful to get to hang and play together! We created custom visuals for the gig by mixing and processing videos from our lives! Also incorporated field recordings from our day to day, full set up now link in bio(~^*: check it out!
NYC friends! Next week on Feb 13 @thenewschool’s Mannes School of Music in Manhattan, I’ll be playing with the Mannes American Composers Ensemble for the NYC premier of OSCILLATIONS, a piece for large ensemble and modular synthesizer⚡️🎼?
NYC friends! Next week on Feb 13 @thenewschool’s Mannes School of Music in Manhattan, I’ll be playing with the Mannes American Composers Ensemble for the NYC premier of OSCILLATIONS, a piece for large ensemble and modular synthesizer⚡️🎼🎻🎛️🔊 This is the first piece where iv really integrated my modular synthesis practice into my instrumental composition work and it has been super beautiful and meaningful! 11 months ago today I premiered this piece alongside the amazing Grossman Ensemble @contemporarycomposition under the baton of the most lovely David Fulmer, and next week we’ll bring it back! Thank you to @levylorenzo for the technical collaboration to make this concert possible. The program is really great, hope to see you there⭐️
So excited to be a part of @lampodotorg program this spring on an amazing lineup of shows🔹 bringing a new piece to life in collaboration with @avgrannan & @paigeschlosser_studio and continuing talking and thinking about this universe with @gasir
So excited to be a part of @lampodotorg program this spring on an amazing lineup of shows🔹 bringing a new piece to life in collaboration with @avgrannan & @paigeschlosser_studio and continuing talking and thinking about this universe with @gasira.t ~~~~~ April 18th, save the date 🔵
Belated tour posting with @tinkatonk 🩵🩵🩵celebrating our record VISTAS out on @elektramusic.eu🌀 such a total blast playing together, and so wonderful to see so many friends along the way! was a dream to see @gau.laurence & get to play togeth
Belated tour posting with @tinkatonk 🩵🩵🩵celebrating our record VISTAS out on @elektramusic.eu🌀 such a total blast playing together, and so wonderful to see so many friends along the way! was a dream to see @gau.laurence & get to play together in Amsterdam (full video of our set coming soon)⭐️🔊 and lovely to share a gig and lots of licorice in Stockholm with @mayabennardo @kristofer.svensson & @etiennenillesen🍬, a kismet gig with @_ethanbraun_ @richten25_space❤️‍🔥, and a blast playing with Tizia Zimmerman at @wim_zh! beautiful red video taken @thehorsehospital gig by @heather_roche, an amazing night shared with @jamesmcreed, and video from @wim_zh by @danaborich ❤️
Thank you @dorfmusik for this thoughtful review in the recent @temponewmusic of the twinning concert this past July at the @imd_darmstadt, featuring music by @kllyshhn and I for @jetorrence, and a violin duo I wrote for @mayabennardo and @ssaviet ⭐️
Thank you @dorfmusik for this thoughtful review in the recent @temponewmusic of the twinning concert this past July at the @imd_darmstadt, featuring music by @kllyshhn and I for @jetorrence, and a violin duo I wrote for @mayabennardo and @ssaviet ⭐️
A year to remember ⭐️ photo dump of some special moments from this past year 1 solo set at @theavalonlounge in Catskill NY 2 duo with Lou Mallozzi at IMSS @surgicalmuseumchicago 3 sweet photo by @stringsnthoughts of @tinkatonk & I playing @hun
A year to remember ⭐️ photo dump of some special moments from this past year 1 solo set at @theavalonlounge in Catskill NY 2 duo with Lou Mallozzi at IMSS @surgicalmuseumchicago 3 sweet photo by @stringsnthoughts of @tinkatonk & I playing @hungrybrainchicago 4 in Cph at @minu_festival in Nov 5 running tech from the desk with @trompetezazi and @sopmahei during the twinnings concert @imd_darmstadt in July 6 cover photo for VISTAS with Katinka taken by Ash Dye 7 @jetorrence premiering For Jen Torrence at @imd_darmstadt 8 installation soundcheck of Laura Ortman’s quadraphonic composition I teched @lpconservancy for @esschicago’s Florasonics series 9 quadraphonics concert at bond chapel with @aaronhollowaynahum @zach____moore & @goodzachary last spring 10 still from set @elasticarts with @tinkatonk last feb 11 rehearsal pic with @yarnwire in the studio last May 12 preconcert talk before playing with the Grossman ensemble at @loganuchicago last March 13 post concert photo with @ssaviet & @mayabennardo after the premier of twinnings 14 with @katesin___ & @ortwoman after a day of working in the studio on the florasonics installation 15 flyer for gig performing spirit catchers with Annea Lockwood at @elasticarts 16 @tinkatonk after way played duo at the release party for my album of compositions - enclosures, @tuskchicago Counting my blessings for a beautiful year.
Thank you @seismografmag & @maconabholt for this beautiful review of For Jen Torrence at Copenhagen’s @minu_festival! I feel so lucky to be able to have been able to make this piece with mastermind @jetorrence & incredible analog film
Thank you @seismografmag & @maconabholt for this beautiful review of For Jen Torrence at Copenhagen’s @minu_festival! I feel so lucky to be able to have been able to make this piece with mastermind @jetorrence & incredible analog film goddess @aka_lua. Thanks to @databaseaesthetics & @mi.kkel for having us, MINU was an amazing experience⭐️
VISTAS TOUR - January, 2026 in the UK/EU. Can’t wait for this lineup of special shows. 16.1 - Zurich @wim_zh Kari solo 17.1 - Amsterdam @parlouramsterdam.love w/ @gau.laurence 19.1 - Stockholm at Khimaira wt @mayabennardo @etiennenillesen
VISTAS TOUR - January, 2026 in the UK/EU. Can’t wait for this lineup of special shows. 16.1 - Zurich @wim_zh Kari solo 17.1 - Amsterdam @parlouramsterdam.love w/ @gau.laurence 19.1 - Stockholm at Khimaira wt @mayabennardo @etiennenillesen & @kristofer.svensson 21.1 - London @thehorsehospital wt @jamesmcreed 23.1 - Berlin listening party at AFTER (dm for address) 24.1 - Berlin @studio.db.berlin 📸 by @_ash_dye_ VISTAS out on @elektramusic.eu
LONDON UK 21.01.26 at THE HORSE HOSPITAL, Kari Watson & Katinka Kleijn Duo, sharing the night with London based guitarist James M. Creed. Doors @7 £8-12 sliding scale
LONDON UK 21.01.26 at THE HORSE HOSPITAL, Kari Watson & Katinka Kleijn Duo, sharing the night with London based guitarist James M. Creed. Doors @7 £8-12 sliding scale
Excerpt from a duo set with Lou Mallozzi for turntables and modular synthesizer at the Museum of Surgical Science last week! 🩺🔊🎥
Tuesday at the Hideout!! Solo sets by @zanderraymond, me and DJ Shivani💥💥💥 Come hang🤍
𝘈 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, composed by Kari Watson in collaboration with mezzo Rosie Middleton, is a 45-minute monodrama for singer, electronics and video. Full piece coming fall 2026✨ This teaser features footage from a concert at @
So excited to be featured with @kllyshhn in Hannah Edgar’s write up for the @chicagotribune previewing this years @frequency_festival_chicago_ ⭐️ full article link in bio! Our concert with @jetorrence kicks off the festival on a program with @
Excerpt from duo set with @gau.laurence @parlouramsterdam.love in January💙 was such an amazing show, so grateful to get to hang and play together! We created custom visuals for the gig by mixing and processing videos from our lives! Also incorporate
NYC friends! Next week on Feb 13 @thenewschool’s Mannes School of Music in Manhattan, I’ll be playing with the Mannes American Composers Ensemble for the NYC premier of OSCILLATIONS, a piece for large ensemble and modular synthesizer⚡️🎼? So excited to be a part of @lampodotorg program this spring on an amazing lineup of shows🔹 bringing a new piece to life in collaboration with @avgrannan & @paigeschlosser_studio and continuing talking and thinking about this universe with @gasir Belated tour posting with @tinkatonk 🩵🩵🩵celebrating our record VISTAS out on @elektramusic.eu🌀 such a total blast playing together, and so wonderful to see so many friends along the way! was a dream to see @gau.laurence & get to play togeth Thank you @dorfmusik for this thoughtful review in the recent @temponewmusic of the twinning concert this past July at the @imd_darmstadt, featuring music by @kllyshhn and I for @jetorrence, and a violin duo I wrote for @mayabennardo and @ssaviet ⭐️ A year to remember ⭐️ photo dump of some special moments from this past year 1 solo set at @theavalonlounge in Catskill NY 2 duo with Lou Mallozzi at IMSS @surgicalmuseumchicago 3 sweet photo by @stringsnthoughts of @tinkatonk & I playing @hun Thank you @seismografmag & @maconabholt for this beautiful review of For Jen Torrence at Copenhagen’s @minu_festival! I feel so lucky to be able to have been able to make this piece with mastermind @jetorrence & incredible analog film VISTAS TOUR - January, 2026 in the UK/EU. Can’t wait for this lineup of special shows. 16.1 - Zurich @wim_zh Kari solo 17.1 - Amsterdam @parlouramsterdam.love w/ @gau.laurence 19.1 - Stockholm at Khimaira wt @mayabennardo @etiennenillesen LONDON UK 21.01.26 at THE HORSE HOSPITAL, Kari Watson & Katinka Kleijn Duo, sharing the night with London based guitarist James M. Creed. Doors @7 £8-12 sliding scale
Excerpt from a duo set with Lou Mallozzi for turntables and modular synthesizer at the Museum of Surgical Science last week! 🩺🔊🎥

Free Music Resources I’ve been using:

https://dood.al/pinktrombone/

https://www.internationalphoneticalphabet.org/ipa-sounds/ipa-chart-with-sounds/

https://vcvrack.com/

https://modulargrid.net/