Dafna Naphtali

Last updated

Dafna Naphtali
Alma mater New York University
Occupations
  • Composer
  • singer
  • guitarist
Employer
Awards Guggenheim Fellowship (2023)
Musical career
Genres Electroacoustic experimental music [1]
Instrument Electric guitar
Formerly ofMechanique(s)

Dafna Naphtali is an American composer, guitarist, and singer. A 2023 Guggenheim Fellow, she formed the duo Mechanique(s) and released the album What Is It Like To Be A Bat? (2003).

Biography

After spending a few years playing piano as a child, she began composing while she was a student at Stuyvesant High School. [2] She studied at New York University, where she got a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz vocal performance and a Master of Music degree in music technology. [3] While at NYU, she discovered Max, a MIDI software which she would later use for most of her compositions. [2]

In November 2000, her piece Landmine was performed at Kathleen Supové and Lisa Celia's NYU concert. [4] She and Hans Tammen formed the duo Mechanique(s); Allan Kozinn of The New York Times said that they "had the most direct ties to classical electronic experimentalism" of all the work at the 2002 Electronic X-travaganza. [5] [6] She performed for the electroacoustic InterAction series in February 2002. [7] In 2003, she and Kitty Brazelton released the album What Is It Like To Be A Bat?, with Naphtali as electric guitarist and vocalist. [8]

She was guest vocalist for Barbez's 2013 concert at (Le) Poisson Rouge. [9] In 2023, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition. [10]

She worked for NYU as an adjunct faculty member, before being promoted to full-time in 2024 as a visiting professor. [1] She is also a part-time assistant professor in music at The New School. [3] She trained in voice pedagogy at Shenandoah University. [3] She has also written a few book chapters and blog posts on music. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Dafna Naphtali". NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Article: An Interview with Dafna Naphtali". Cycling '74. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Dafna Naphtali". The New School. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ Gann, Kyle (December 5, 2000). "Resignating with the audience". The Village Voice. p. 129. ProQuest   232276623.
  5. ↑ Kozinn, Allan (March 9, 2002). "The Updated Face of Electronic Composition". New York Times. p. B7. ProQuest   432030836.
  6. ↑ Majeski, John (February 17, 2005). "MUSIC OUTSIDE THE BOX Asbury Park's Black Box presents Music of Invention series". Asbury Park Press. p. 1. ProQuest   437704380.
  7. ↑ Catlin, Roger (January 24, 2002). "TOO-HEAVY METAL FOR BOSTAPH'S ELBOW". Hartford Courant. p. 5. ProQuest   256447641.
  8. ↑ McElfresh, Dave (September 5, 2003). "Jazz Sides: On the racks". Goldmine. Vol. 29, no. 18. p. 27. ProQuest   1500184.
  9. ↑ "Reconstructing the Music of Roman Jews". New York Times. September 19, 2013. ProQuest   2214571886.
  10. ↑ "Dafna Naphtali". Guggenheim Fellowship. Retrieved May 21, 2025.