Marielle V. Jakobsons is an award-winning composer and interdisciplinary artist whose work explores post-minimalism and a visceral perception of time and space.
Marielle’s compositions evoke minimalistic patterns with melodic expression inside enveloping polyrhythmic soundscapes of synthesizers, strings, and voice. She builds installations and instruments which transform sound into light and matter, such as the “Macro-Cymatic Visual Music Instrument.”
Marielle collaborates extensively in the experimental arts as a sound designer or composer for visual elements such as film, dance, interactive media and immersive technology. She also produces award-winning videos and photographs which have been exhibited nationally.
As a composer and multi-instrumentalist, Marielle has published recordings and toured internationally on Thrill Jockey, Mexican Summer, Students of Decay, Digitalis, Important Records, among other labels, both as a solo performer and with her bands Saariselka, Date Palms, Myrmyr, or other collaborations.
Education
Marielle received an MFA in Electronic Music from Mills College, where her thesis work Two Violins and a Theatre: A Triptych of Resonances was an immersive performance environment utilizing water, light, custom electronics and interactive computer programming to deconstruct the violin as a sonic interface. Prior to her studies at Mills, Marielle received a Graduate Certificate in computer music composition at Centre Creation Musical Iannis Xenakis in Paris. She received her B.A. in Music Performance and Biology from Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying contemporary piano performance with Anita Pontremoli and founding the Case New Music Ensemble. Prior, she studied classical violin with Yoko Moore, assistant concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Awards & Distinctions
Marielle has been awarded the Djerassi Artist Residency, Dresher Ensemble Artist Residency, Brush Creek Foundation Arts Residency, American Composer’s Forum Grant, and NEXMAP Sounding Out California Composer’s Award. Her installations, photographs, and videos have been exhibited or screened at the LAB (CA), Warehouse 1-10 (NM), Indiana University East’s “Art + Science” Juried Exhibition (IN), Allegany Arts Council Juried Photography Exhibition (MD), Staunton International Film Festival (VA), and Madelife (CO).
She has been a Visiting Professor at Mills College and San Francisco State University, and Visiting Artist at Eastern Washington University.
Her pro audio and sound design career has led her from such roles as an Audio Director of the iconic EA Games franchise The Sims and, most recently, as Chief Product Officer of the innovative spatial audio company Embody.
