Sonia Paço-Rocchia

Sonia Paço-Rocchia /so.ˈnja ˈpa.so ˈrɔ.kja/, born in 1982 in Montreal, is a composer, multidisciplinary artist, improviser, bassoonist and creative coder. After graduating in mixed music composition from the Université de Montréal in 2005, she began her career in Europe, where she was based mainly in London. She later moved to the Laurentides region in Quebec. Her work has been shown in a dozen countries, including Canada, England and Belgium. In 2019, she became the first woman to receive the fr in the "Creation of the Year" category. Sonia Paço-Rocchia's approach focuses on sounds, timbres and open musical forms. Her research includes the exploitation and expansion of the sound palettes of instruments through playing techniques or live electronics, inventing her own instruments and instrument automatons. Her pieces frequently involve a visual or theatrical aspect. Sonia Paço-Rocchia is bassoonist-improviser with the de. She regularly improvises with chamber ensembles, such as The Fantastique Quintet, VibraLib and ZzCc or as a soloist. Justine et les machines, opera on a libretto by Marie-Ève Bouchard, commissioned by the 3 FEMMES prize by Mécénat Musica (2021-2022) Trouée, a work for baritone saxophone (doubling on piccolo), contrabass clarinet, two Tables de Babel (instrument by fr), Orgue de sirène (instrument by fr), percussion including an electric Lame, a Stemsaw and a Flex-a-tone on stand, and multi-channel live electronics. This work was commissioned by fr and fr, and was nominated as a finalist for the fr "Creation of the Year" in 2020 (2019) Ode au métal is a work for saxophone quartet performing inside an installation, made of large metal pieces augmented with electronics, as well as quadraphonic live electronics. This work was commissioned by the saxophone quartet fr. Ode au métal was awarded two fr, "Creation of the Year" and "Concert of the Year, New Music, Electroacoustic" as well as an Excellence award in performing arts from the fr.