David Shea
From '82 - '84 David Shea studied composition and theory at the school of performing arts in Indianapolis and at the Oberlin Conservatory from '84 - '85. Relocating to New York in the mid 80's to perform and compose, he was drawn to the downtown scene, improvising and collaborating and throughout the eighties worked as a turntablist, vocal improviser, tape collager, club DJ and composer in many ensembles and collaborations as well as performing solo multimedia concerts. He most prominently became known for his work with John Zorn's ensembles between '86 and '96 in projects such as Cobra, Film Works, Elegy, Absinthe, Godard and Spillane - touring the US and Europe. Writing extensively for dance and performance projects he has worked with many choreographers such as David Hernandez, Davis Freeman, Maria Voortmans & Robert De Jong but most visibly with the work of Karole Armitage. Since 1990 he has concentrated on composed works for a variety of ensembles and switched to electronics to focus on samplers and sampler based ensemble works. Projects and performances over the last eight years have ranged from The Monte Carlo Ballet to the Brooklyn Academy, The Spoleto Festival and The Rossini Festival and productions for the Florence Opera Ballet, the BBC film Wild Ballerina, the film Hall of Mirrors and BBC Film Resistor. Performing both solo and with groups he has performed the gamut of festivals and spaces including Tokyo Summer Festival, Lincoln Centers Walter Reed, Symphony Space, The Springdance Festival, The Klapstuc Festival, The Knitting Factory, Experimental Intermedia, CBGB'S gallery, The Victoriaville Fest, Fin de Siecle in Nantes, Festival dei Popoli in Florence, 'Sonic Process' Centre Pompidou (Soundfilm in 8 Acts purchased for the permanent collection)- Paris, the Kaaitheatre in Brussels, Cinesonic Melbourme- Australia, Agora Festival- IRCAM, featured composer at the Why Note Festival in Dijon plus many solo and ensemble tours of Europe. His first recorded work was released in '92 and has been followed by over twenty recordings in the last seven years. Forthcoming works include a new CD based on the hindu epic The Ramayana, new recordings and re-issues for Belgian label Sub Rosa and several film scores for Dutch and Belgian filmmakers. He is currently engrossed in the development of a new sampler machine in association with IRCAM whilst juggling an on-going series of children’s projects for television. He continues his fascination with film composing releasing a soundtrack CD of the Johan Grimonprez film Dial History, a score for feature film 'Celebration' and also another score for Belgian filmmaker Herman Asselbergs 'AM/PM'. His works continues to explore interconnections between classical traditions both eastern and western, film music, experimental and club dance traditions, time periods and levels of technology and intuitive performance.

www.dshea.net