Pauline Oliveros is acclaimed internationally as a composer, performer and humanitarian. An important pioneer in American Music, she has explored sound for five decades, forging new ground for herself and others. Through improvisation, electronic music, ritual, teaching and meditation she has created a body of work with such breadth of vision that it profoundly affects those who experience it and eludes many who try to write about it.



"On some level, music, sound consciousness and religion are all one, and she would seem to be very close to that level."

John Rockwell



Oliveros has been honored with awards, grants and concerts internationally. Whether performing at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., in an underground cavern, or in the studios of West German Radio, Oliveros' commitment to interaction with the moment is unchanged. Through Deep Listening Pieces and earlier Sonic Meditations Oliveros introduced the concept of incorporating all environmental sounds into musical performance through listening. She can make the sound of a sweeping siren into another instrument of the ensemble. To make a pleasurable experience of this requires focus, concentrated, musicianship and strong improvisational skills, which are the hallmarks of Oliveros' form.
In performance Oliveros plays an accordion that has been re-tuned in two different systems of just intonation. Additionally she uses electronics to alter the sound of the accordion and to incorporate and transform room acoustics.


Pauline Oliveros has built a loyal following in response to her many concerts, recordings, and publications. She has written numerous musical compositions for soloists and ensembles in music, dance, theater and inter-arts companies. She has also provided leadership within the music community.
She was the first Director of the Center for Contemporary Music (formerly the Tape Music Center at Mills College), and she was Director of the Center for Music Experiment during her 14 year tenure as professor of music at the University of California at San Diego. She frequently acted in an advisory capacity for organizations such as The National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council for the Arts, and many private foundations.
She now serves as Distinguished Research Professor of Music at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Darius Milhaud Composer in Residence at Mills College and mentor in the Bard College summer MFA program.
Oliveros has been vocal about representing the needs of individual artists of all ages, about the need for diversity and experimentation in the arts, and promoting cooperation and good will among people.











"Through Pauline Oliveros and Deep Listening I finally know what harmony is.... It's about the pleasure of making music." John Cage 1989