Rodney Waschka II, composer, performer, filmmaker, poet, and visual artist is probably best known for his algorithmic compositions, his unusual operas, and his theater pieces. An expert in computer music, his works often include electronic computer music or other media: visuals, theater, or poetry. He also frequently composes music for traditional ensembles.
His music has been performed throughout North America and Europe, in Japan, China, Argentina, Columbia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Israel, South Africa, and elsewhere. Important festivals and concert halls where his works have been performed include the Sound Ways Festival in Russia, numerous instances of the International Computer Music Conference, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the US festival, the World Saxophone Congress in Montreal and in Tempe, Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, the Sheremetev Palace, Glinka Hall, and the Composers' Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, the International Review of Composers in Belgrade, the Purcell Room in London, the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, and many others.
The North Carolina Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts (USA), Meet The Composer, the Fundacion Valparaiso (Spain), the Texas Composers' Forum, and other groups and individuals, including Steve Duke, the Louisville Woodwind Quintet, and Beth Griffith, have supported the composition, performance, and recording of Waschka's works. Waschka's pieces are recorded on the Capstone, IRIDA, Centaur, and AUR labels based in the USA, the Ama Romanta, Candy Factory, and Plancton labels based in Portugal, the RMA and Nimbus labels in the UK, the Ablaze record label of Australia, the Phasma label in Poland, and the PeP label based in Canada. His music is published by Borik Press.
Waschka's teachers include Larry Austin, Thomas Clark, Paul Berg, Clarence Barlow, George Lewis, Charles Dodge, Robert Ashley, and Joel Ryan. He received his doctorate from the University of North Texas and also studied at the Institute of Sonology -- The Royal Conservatory of The Netherlands, and Brooklyn College. Rodney Waschka II served as the Managing Director of the Consortium to Distribute Computer Music (CDCM), and was elected to three terms (six years) as an officer of the International Computer Music Association (ICMA).
Waschka is Professor of Arts Studies at North Carolina State University where he directs the Arts Studies Program and the Arts NOW Series.