Virtual CONTAQT

Live-stream concerts performed online in real-time with artists from around the world

Virtual CONTAQT is an ongoing and developing project hosted by ContaQt, and featuring past and future collaborators. Initiated by the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, the project represents the ensemble's search for a means of collaborating with artists from around the world while still primarily based in different geographic areas. Initial experiments included performances of the group's formative arrangement of Brian Eno’s Discreet Music using online chat and podcast software. Following a period of trial and error between ContaQt’s Andrew Noseworthy and Jerry Pergolesi, and Evan Ziporyn, ContaQt established a setup that allows each player to hear themselves, hear each other, and record themselves using the Audiomovers ListenTo plugin in conjunction with a digital audio workstation. In developing a practice for creating in this virtual environment, the group (also consisting of Allison Wiebe, Mary-Katherine Finch, and Sara Fraser Raff) sought the guidance of experienced telematic performer and sound artist/composer Tina Pearson. The group then enlisted the technical expertise of sound artist/composer Jeff Morton to coordinate live sound and broadcasting, bringing us to the present state of Virtual ContaQt.

Coming up... Collaborations with

  • Yaz Lancaster & Adam Cuthbert

  • SlowPitchSound & Andrew Noseworthy

This project is made possible through the generous support of