LEAF2024 – Lisa Bella Donna

Sound Alchemist
Lisa Bella Donna

Friday May 3, The Arts HUB
420 Courtney Way, Lafayette, CO 80026

Visuals by Christopher Short

Lisa Bella Donna is an internationally acclaimed recording artist, composer, modular synthesist, sound designer, educator, and clinician. She has decades of experience as a multi-instrumentalist session musician, educator, as well as developing extensive techniques with musique concreté, modular synthesis, analog recording & mixing techniques, microtonal music, orchestration & film composition. Lisa has traveled all throughout the USA, Japan & Europe performing concerts and conducting workshops and clinics. She has been commissioned for many multichannel audio art installations in the USA and Europe.

Lisa can be seen often representing and showcasing the modern instruments of Moog music Inc. She has many videos of her awe-inspiring performances with Moog Synthesizers on the Moog Music Youtube page. Lisa also works closely with Moog Music Inc. composing a wide variety of patch-books for their semi-modular “Ecosystem” as well as the deeply exploratory multi-timbral patches you will pull up on the Moog One 16 Voice Polyphonic synthesizer. Lisa has 2 full length releases only available on the Moog Music Bandcamp that feature the Moog One Synthesizer. “Transformers” & “Explorations With The Moog One Electronic Music Synthesizer Vol. 2” These recordings give truly inspiring examples of the Moog One’s infinite sonically musical possibilities. Also, Lisa’s 2XLP album “Afternoon Dreams” was the very first album released that features compositions performed solely on the Moog Matriarch. Lisa is a proud ambassador & educator of Moog Music and all of the artistry that goes into making their instruments.

Recently she conducted her own electronic music workshops at Berklee School of Music in Boston, Superbooth Berlin, Synthplex in Los Angeles, The Music District in Colorado, EMEAPP, and Western Carolina University Electronic music programs. In 2020 She was included in the AES Convention on “Women in Modular Synthesis” with Suzanne Ciani, Caterina Barbieri, & Jennifer Hruska. Lisa was a special guest on Tim Heidecker’s “Office Hours” program, where she talked about synthesis and conducted a performance. Lisa was the headlining performer for Moogmentum, the grand opening of The Bob Moog Foundation’s “Moogseum, Synthesizing Innovation, Music, and Creativity”. Along with Patrick Moraz, Herb Deutsch, and Larry Fast. The event was created and curated by Michelle Moog-Koussa to honor her father, Bob Moog’s amazing legacy and the launch of the Moogseum in Asheville, North Carolina. Lisa conducted a daytime workshop/clinic on Moog synthesizers and signal processors. Lisa concluded the event with an electrifying, 90 minute concert at Asheville Music Hall. Lisa is featured in the Alex Ball Movie: Electromotive:The Story of ARP Instruments

Lisa was featured on Bandcamps Daily Feature where they go through highlights Lisa’s sprawling discography. During the week of it’s release, “The World She Wanted” reached no.1 in Electronic vinyl LP sales on Bandcamp. The release was also featured in Norman Records (UK) “Best Sellers” Along with Can, Portishead, Nick Cave, and Laurie Anderson

Lisa continues to inspire synthesists across the world every day from her recording studio in the Appalachian Mountains.

Videos:

Link to extensive interview & studio profile

This event is presented in conjunction with KGNU Radio, and Media Manifesta Presents, with the support of the University of Denver’s Marsico Visiting Artists Fund and the Emergent Digital Practices program.