DoctorClaire Benedict

I am a singer, composer, and audio engineer with a deep commitment to exploring the intersection of technology, creativity, and music performance. Originally from Suffolk, England, I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2005, bringing with me a background in contemporary live music performance and a passion for creating original music and sonic art.

I hold two bachelor degrees in contemporary music and audio production, a postgradute diploma in composition, an LTCL in classical singing and a doctorate in musical arts specialising in studio production and vocal performance. Before joining the University of Canterbury, I led programmes in audio production, music, and digital screen at the Southern Institute of Technology, teaching across composition, acoustics, sound for visual media, and vocal performance.

At UC, I lecture in creative music technology, digital screen and composition, while continuing to expand the boundaries of music technology research. My doctoral research at the University of Otago focused on the autonomous production of choral recordings through advanced vocal modelling, exploring how ensemble interaction and human consciousness shape creativity and music-making in ways that technology cannot fully replicate.  This study lays the foundation for my passion in researching and designing new performative sound technology. My work integrates innovative technological practice with traditional music disciplines, contributing to new frontiers in multidisciplinary music production and education in Aotearoa.