Lief Ellis

Performing Arts Technology Specialist; Artist Teacher

Email:  rellis@hartford.edu

Biography: Lief Ellis has a diverse career that encompasses music composition, electronic performance, educator and administrator. His formal education is in music composition. He received his Bachelor of Music from Radford University and subsequently received a Master of Music, as well as an Artist's Diploma, from The Hartt School.

Lief Ellis's recent work as a composer and sound engineer has been focused on the creation of hybrid instruments and the transformation of commercial hardware into dynamic MAX/MSP-based musical interfaces. His past compositions and collaborative projects have included a performance of The Rings of Yggdrasill by the Hartt School Bass Ensemble (directed by Robert Black), a series of interactive installation pieces presented at the Hartford Art School with Ken Steen (composer), Bill Solomon (percussionist), and Rebecca McDonald (media artist), as well as collaborations with choreographer Katie Stevinson-Nollet, composer Alphonse Izzo, and guitarist Christopher Ladd.

Lief Ellis currently holds the position of Performing Arts Technology Specialist at The Hartt School as well as holding adjunct positions in the Music Management and Dance departments. Lief also teaches electronic music at Quinnipiac University.  He also performs regularly with the Hartford Sound Alliance and is President of the board of directors for the Studio of Electronic Music, Inc.

Visit Lief Ellis's website:  www.liefellis.com