Keith Hamel

Dr. Keith Hamel is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Music, and an Associate Researcher at the Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems (ICICS) at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Hamel has been on the Faculty at UBC between 1987 and 2026. He holds a B.Mus. from Queen's University (1981) and A.M. and Ph.D degrees from Harvard University (1984, 1985). He also studied Computer Music under the supervision of Barry Vercoe at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology between 1981 and 1984.

​

Dr. Hamel has written both acoustic and electroacoustic music and has been awarded many prizes in both media. His works have been performed by many of the finest soloists and ensembles both in Canada and abroad. He has received commissions from  IRCAM (Paris), the Ensemble Intercontemporain, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver New Music Ensemble, the Elektra Women's Choir, musica intima, New Music Concerts (Toronto), Hammerhead Consort, Standing Wave, Hard Rubber Orchestra, as well as from outstanding performers such as flutist Robert Cram, bassoonist Jesse Read, clarinetists Jean-Guy Boisvert and François Houle, saxophonists Julia Nolan and Jeremy Brown, trombonists Jeremy Berkman and Benny Sluchin, violists Marina Thibeault and Ryan Davis, and pianists Douglas Finch, Megumi Masaki, Jane Hayes, Angelique Po and Corey Hamm. Many of his recent compositions focus on interaction between live performers, computer-controlled electronics, and interactive video.

​

As a computer music researcher and software developer, Hamel is author of the NoteAbilityPro software program which is used for professional music engraving and publishing, and he has developed interactive environments for live performer and computer interaction. His research has been funded by the Canada Council, the SSHRC, a Killam Research Fellowship, and UBC Arts-ISIT.

​

Dr. Keith Hamel is the former Vice-President of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM), a former President of the Canadian Music Centre, and a former board member of the Canadian League of Composers. Several of his compositions are available on commercial recordings released by by Centrediscs and Redshift Music Society.