Christian Calon: biography
Christian Calon (Marseille, France, 1950)
• residence: Montréal, Québec
• composer
His first works emerged in Canada and soon brought him international attention. In 1989-90 he acted as vice-president for the CEC. In 1991 he was appointed to the musical direction of the GMEM (France) and in 1995, he was a guest of the DAAD in Berlin where he lived for several years. His artistic research lead at that time to the development of a widely used graphical multichannel spatialisation system based on the principle of holophony (Sigma1 at APBTools/Germany, and Holophon at GMEM/France). His musical and technological experience took him, as jury member, to participate to various national and international competions.
His concert works, sound installation or radio projects have all in common the exploration of the listening experience. The conception of sound shapes projection and the importance of listening contexts are at the heart of his creative research leading to a on-going process of investigation of new technologies.
In parallel in order to further his interest in the narrative forms through sound, he turned to writing for the radio medium. His present work focuses on the idea of Time through several musical forms : concert music, a dance project, a radio project and a sound installation.
His work is performed worldwide and received honours in major international competitions 2001 - Grand Prix Phonurgia Nova (France); 1999 - Grand Prix Marulic of the UER/EBU; 1997 - Mention at the Prix Ars Electronica (Austria); 1996 - Lynch-Staunton Prize (Canada); 1995 - Mention at the Prix Ars Electronica (Austria); 1995 - Residency at the DAAD (Germany); 1994 - 2nd Prize at the Concours International de Bourges (France); 1991 - 2n Prize at the International Computer Music Competition (USA); 1989 - 1st Prize at the Concours International de Bourges (France); 1989 - Chosen to represent Canada at the World Music Days; 1988 - 2nd Prize at the International Computer Music Competition (USA); 1985 - 1st Prize at the Concours International Luigi Russolo (Italia).
His first solo CD “Ligne de vie” (IMED 9001) was selected for the 1990 Grammy Awards (USA) and the second CD “Les corps éblouis” (IMED 9838) was nominated for the album of the year at the 1998 “Opus Awards” (Canada). His music is published on the empreintes DIGITALes label (Montreal) and appears on various labels (to be released: “The Ulysses Project” and “The little man in the ear”).
A free-lance artist, he now lives in Montreal.
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Christian Calon
