Mario Verandi is an Argentinean born composer, sound and media artist. He primarily works with new technologies as an aid to exploring and expanding the boundaries of
sound, space, perception and meaning. A distinct characteristic of his
work has been the exploration of the poetic and evocative
potential of concrete and environmental sounds and their incorporation
in sound compositions, audiovisual installations, live performances and radio art pieces.
Mario Verandi studied music at the Music School of the Rosario National University in Argentina. He played piano and keyboards in groups of different styles such as pop, folk, tango and experimental. In 1986 he moved to Barcelona and studied with Gabriel Brncic and Xavier Serra at the Phonos Electroacoustic Music Studios. In 1991 he moved to London and continued his studies with Jonty Harrison at the University of Birmingham (UK) where he completed a Master and a PhD degree in Electroacoustic music composition. In 2000 he moved to Berlin after being awarded a fellowship to take part in the prestigious artists-in-berlin residence programme of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
Mario Verandi was artist-in-residence at La Muse en Circuit (Paris), at the Césaré studio de création musicale (Reims), TU-Electronic Music Studios Berlin, ZKM (Karlsruhe) and the Cuenca Electroacoustic Music Studios (Spain). In addition, he was selected to participate in the 1998 International Course for Professional Composers and Choreographers at Bretton Hall University (UK), the 1999 Music Theater Workshop at the Theater Royal Stratford East (London) and in the 1996 "Exchange" for Professional Composers and Choreographers at the Royal Festival Hall (London).
His works have been performed, exhibited and broadcast worldwide in events such as Multiphonies GRM (Paris), Donaueschinger Musiktage (Germany), MaerzMusik Berlin, The Open House Contemporary Argentine Art Exhibition at the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in London, Interactive Futures (Canada), Florida Electroacoustic Music Festival (USA), Inventionen (Berlin), ISCM World Music Days (Manchester), Futura (France), Festival Musica (Strasbourg), State of the Nation (London), Rumours Concerts (Birmingham, UK), Logos Concerts (Belgium), and Stockholm Electronic Music Festival. For a complete list see performances/exhibitions.
Mario Verandis´ works have received prizes and awards in the Bourges International Electroacoustic Music Competition (France), Musica Nova Competition (Prague), CIEJ Electronic Music Awards (Barcelona), Prix Ars Electronica (Linz), Stockholm Electronic Art Awards (Sweden), SGAE Electroacoustic Music Competition (Spain) and the European Bell Days Composition Prize (ZKM, Karlsruhe). For a complete list see cv below.
He has a long-standing interest in interdisciplinary projects and as a result has created music and sound designs for art installations, dance, theatre, films and the radio. He has collaborated among others with the American visual artist Catherine Ferguson, German choreographer Helge Musial, Polish theater director Grazyna Kania, German film-maker Harun Farocki, German visual artist Corinna Rosteck, Berlin-based visual artitst Lillevan, English electronic composer Pelado and Russian visual artists Igor and Svetlana Kopystianski.
He has given presentations and lectures in several institutions in Europe and the USA and in 2003-2004 was guest lecturer in the musicology department of the Berlin Free University.