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Photograph of Paul Oehlers

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Paul Oehlers Associate Professor Performing Arts

Additional Positions at AU
Associate Professor of Audio Technology
Degrees
DMA, Music Composition University of Illinois;
MM, Music Composition, University of Illinois;
MA, Teaching (Music Ed.), University of the Arts;
BM, Music Composition, University of the Arts

Bio
Paul A. Oehlers is most recognized for his "extraordinarily evocative" (Variety) film scores. Films incorporating his music have screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, the Indiefest Film Festival of Chicago, the Hamptons International Film Festival, and the Atlanta International Film Festival. His electronic music compositions have been performed in the United States, Canada, England, Cuba, Brazil, Germany, Italy, France, Korea, and South Africa. Paul was named the 2006 Margaret Lee Crofts Fellow by MacDowell.
See Also
Performing Arts Department
Audio Technology
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Fall 2024

  • ATEC-101 Fund of Audio Technology

  • ATEC-650 Audio Technology Seminar

  • MUS-122 Private Instrument/Vocal Study: Composition

Spring 2025

  • ATEC-101 Fund of Audio Technology

  • ATEC-481 Adv Stds in Audio Production: Electro-Acoustic Production

Partnerships & Affiliations

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

  • Film scoring, electro-acoustic music composition, sound design, post-production sound for film, audio production, audio recording, mixing and mastering

Professional Presentations

• (2023) New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival; MA/IN Festival 2023

  • (2022) Earth Day Art Model Festival, NACUSA Sounds New Concert Series; New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival

  • (2021) SCI National Conference; SEAMUS National Conference
  • (2020) Research on Contemporary Compositioin Conference; Seoul Internatiional Computer Music Festival
  • (2019) International Double Reed Society Conference; SEAMUS National Conference
  • (2018) New Music DC
  • (2017) MA/IN Festival 2017; Escape Velocity
  • (2016) MusInfo; DC Environmental Film Festival (film score); Alexandria Film Festival (film score); Conscious Birth Summit (film score); Life Equal (film score); Escape Velocity; Film Festival of Little Washington (film score)
  • (2013) Our City Film Festival (film score); Lappfest (film score); DC Shorts Film Festival (film score); Heritage Film Festival (film score); Vancouver Asian Film Festival (film score); Virginia Film Festival (film score); Utopia Film Festvial (film score)
  • (2012) SEAMUS National Conference; University of Huntsville - Alabama New Music Festival; Cinesonika 2 Festival (film score); SCI Region 3 Conference
  • (2010) International Conference on Auditory Display; Festival Mawazine (film score); New York International Film and Video Festival (film score); Park City Film Music Festival (film score); Lakeside Film Festival (film score); Central Wisconsin Film Festival (film score)
  • (2009) Al Jazeera International Documentaet Film Festival (film score); Islamic Society of North America Film Festival (film score); International Festival of Muslim Cinema (film score); MESA FilmFest (film score); Música Viva Festival (film score); New Orleans Middle East Film Festival (film score); Women of Color Arts and Film Festival (film score); Women's International Film and Arts Festival (film score); Los Angeles International Women's Film Festival (film score); Celluloid Bainbridge Film Festival (film score); SCI National Conference; Festival of Contemporary Music
  • (2008) International Computer Music Conference
  • (2006) International Computer Music Conference; Electronic Music Midwest
  • (2005) Atlanta International Film Festival (film score)
  • (2004) Hamptons International Film Festival (film score); International Computer Music Conference

Films/Documentaries

  • Who Speaks For Nature? (2018), dir. Larry Engel (film score)
  • In the Executioner’s Shadow (2018), dir. Maggie Stogner Burnette (film score)    
  • Rubi: A DACA Dreamer in Trump’s America (2018), dir. Carolyn Brown (film score)    
  • Wild About Hank (2016), dir. Emma Kouguell (film score)
  • When Mickey Came to Town (2016), dir. Sam Sheline (film score)
  • The Mama Sherpas (2015), dir. Brigid Maher (film score)
  • The Salinas Project (2014), dir. Carolyn Brown (film score)    
  • Chinatown (2013) 26:00, dir. Yi Chen (film score)
  • From the fields: An American Journey (2012) 26:00, dir. Carolyn Brown (film score)    
  • On the Line (2010), dir. Carolyn Brown (film score)
  • Hard to Be Me (2009), dir. Erik Cieslewicz (film score)    
  • Veiled Voices (2009), dir. Brigid Maher (film score)    
  • Sheika Stories (2009), dir. Brigid Maher (film score)
  • Most High (2004), dir. Marty Sader (film score)

Residencies

• MacDowell Colony (Summer 2006)

Exhibitions/Performances

  • Lewis University, Romeoville, IL, 12 Mar 2012
  • Loyola University, New Orleans, LA, 16 - 17 Mar 2011
  • American University, Washington, DC 22 Sep 2010
  • George Mason University, Washington, 22 Mar 2010
  • Flat Iron Building, Chicago, IL, 19 Dec 2009
  • University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 1 Oct 2009
  • University of Illinois - Chicago, Chicago, IL, 24 Sep 2009
  • Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, IL, 17 May 2009
  • Chicago Humanities Festival, Chicago, IL, 27 Oct 2007
  • Harris Theater, Chicago, IL,13 Mar 2007
  • CEJMKO Concert, Teatro Municipal de Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 10 Nov 2006
  • Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL, 28 Oct 2006
  • New Music Chicago, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL, 14 May 2006

Compositions

  • 2023 CAS Dean's Award for Exceptional Impact
  • 2006 Margaret Lee Croft Fellowship, MacDowell Colony
  • 2006 Prism Award, Outstanding DVD Release of the Year, “Most High” (film score)
  • Grand Jury Prize, 2005 Atlanta International Film Festival, “Most High”(film score)
  • Golden Starfish, 2004 Hamptons International Film Festival, “Most High” (film score)
  • 2000 Society for Electro-acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS)/ASCAP Award (2nd Place)

Professional Certifications

  • New Jersey Music K-12 Provisional Teaching Certificate
  • Pennsylvania Music K-12 Provisional Teaching Certificate

Recordings

  • Aakati. 2020. Nous Records. Pterois for electronic playback
  • Sound Silence Thought. 2020. Sound Silence Thought. Tidal for electronic playback
  • Electronic Masters Vol. 5. 2016, Ablaze Records. Acheron for electronic playback
  • The Mama Sherpas. (DVD) 2015. Tiny Leaps Productions/Bond 360
  • Electronic Masters, Vol. 1. 2012. Ablaze Records. Protolith for marimba and electronic playback
  • Veiled Voices. (DVD) 2009. Tiny Leaps Productions/Typecast Film Distribution, Inc. (AFD)
  • 50: In Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Experimental Music Studios. 2008. EMS-2008, University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios. Phreximus for electro-acoustic playback
  • Most High. (DVD) 2006. 2nd Act Films/Red Envelope Entertainment/Dokument Films
  • SEAMUS 11. 2002. EAM-2002, SEAMUS. Archetypal Infusion: MemEry2k for harp and electro-acoustic playback; Ann Yeung, harp
  • Origins. 2001. EMS-2001, University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios. Residual Impact for steel drum and electro-acoustic playback; Brandon Pool, steel drum
  • Passages. 1999. EMS-9900, University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios. Spawn for Electro-acoustic playback
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Compositions

  • Pseudechis (2023) for electronic playback
  • Themis (2023) for English Horn and electronic playback
  • Red Coyote (2022) for electronic playback
  • Morphika (2020) for English horn and bass clarinet
  • 8 (2020) for sanre drum and tom-toms 
  • Tapestry (2020) for percussion and electronic playback
  • Sunlight (2020) for electronic playback
  • Sunset (2020) for electronic playback
  • Moonlight (2020) for electronic playback
  • Winter 2020 (2020) for electronic playback
  • Pterois (2020) for electronic playback
  • Aegis (2020) for electronic playback
  • Tidal (2020) for electronic playback 
  • Thaklios (2020) for electronic playback
  • Contemplation (2020) for electronic playback
  • Assemble: Ice and Fire (2019) for percussion ensemble
  • Petrus Romanus (2019) for electronic playback
  • Sts (2019) for electronic playback
  • Marsyas (2018) for oboe and electronic playback
  • Flux Hammer (2017) for electronic playback
  • Code Parsing (2017) for electronic playback
  • Dressed for... (2017) for mixed ensemble and electronic playback
  • Delphium Helix (2016) for electronic playback 
  • Paritculae (2014)  for mixed ensemble and electronic playback
  • Anisoptera (2012) for mixed ensemble and electronic playback
  • Protolith (2010) for marimba and electronic playback
  • Three Songs After Anna Akhmatova (2009) for clarinet, cello, and electronic playback
  • Phreximus (2008) for electronic playback
  • Phoenix Rising (2007) for chamber orchestra and electronic playback
  • Acheron (2006) for electronic playback 
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