Bio

Jean-Michel is a PhD candidate at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University. His research project involves recording Western Australian birdsong, and using this as a catalyst for new music composition. Instead of mimicking the birdsong, or make it fit with human music, Maujean turns his focus towards the birdsong, to illuminate and celebrate the rich repertoire naturally occurring in Western Australia. Using this approach, the bird remains a composer of music, and complimented by an array of self-made instruments. 3D-printed flutes, PVCellos and a 16-tone piano provide a rich and organic palette of acoustic textures, each aiming to reinforce intuitive connections between harmony and mathematics. Maujean’s developments in music visualisation also aim to refine visceral and intuitive expressions of music theory and analysis, g through 3D spectrogram animated notation, and explorations in colour to represent pitch and instrumentation. Community engagement has remained at the core of Maujean’s practice, starting as a Music Facilitator for Catch Music in 2011. He has a natural ability to help people feel comfortable playing music in a group setting. A career highlight was travelling to Warmun, Western Australia, to work with the local community. He assisted composers Hollis Taylor and Jon Rose, to teach violin at the local school. This opportunity was provided by Tura New Music in 2018. Maujean was nominated for WAM experimental Artist of the year in 2017, and WAM experimental song of the year in 2019.