ABOUT

ABOUT

Founded in 1986 by Dawn and Lou Mallozzi, Eric Leonardson, and Perry Venson, Experimental Sound Studio (ESS) has occupied its Edgewater location since 2006. The facility is home to a full-service recording, mixing, and mastering studio for hire; Audible Gallery, a small public space for exhibitions, meetings, workshops, performances, and artists' projects; and the Creative Audio Archive—an invaluable collection of recordings, print, and visual ephemera related to avant-garde and exploratory sound and music of the last five decades. ESS presents eclectic performance and installation programming, workshops, and artist talks year round—both in the various spaces around the studio (including its beautiful garden) and at various partner venues around Chicago.

 

Mission

Experimental Sound Studio is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to artistic evolution and the creative exploration of sound. As an international hub for sonic experimentation, ESS nurtures artists, heralds new works, and builds a broad, supportive community of makers, enthusiasts, and creative partners through production, presentation, education, and preservation.

 

Core Values

  • The artist is at the center of the creative process
  • The past informs and inspires invention and innovation
  • Experimentation requires both artistic rigor and risk
  • Sonic-based expression has no boundaries and requires an inclusive environment that welcomes and values diverse perspectives and voices
  • Collaboration activates growth
 

Staff

Adam Vida: Managing Director

Contact Adam

Adam Vida has been Studio Manager/Events Coordinator at ESS since 2008. In addition to running the day-to-day operations of the recording studio, he is instrumental in scheduling and executing ESS' events programming at ESS—developing, curating, and coordinating many concerts, workshops, and performance series—including Sunday Solos, SummerSonic, the Benefit Concert for Frank Rosaly, and Drone for the End of Time. Adam also works as a producer for recording sessions and an in-house composer for film and video projects.

Adam is also a multi-instrumentalist, composer, improviser, and producer. After attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Adam moved to Chicago in 1997 where he has performed and recorded in various rock, jazz, improvised, and experimental music projects (U.S. Maple, Singer, Dhalgren, DRMWPN, Azita, Redmoon Theater, Central Falls, Ken Vandermark). He has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe with various projects.

 

Alex Inglizian: Technical Director, Chief Engineer

Contact Alex

Alex Inglizian has been with ESS since 2007, shortly after he received a BA in Sound from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A seasoned engineer, he has over 10 years of experience in both live and recorded sound. In addition to managing the upkeep of the studio's soft- and hardware and engineering most of our recording sessions, he co-curates the SummerSonic series, and runs location sound and does post-production mixing for many independent film and video projects. Inglizian is a technical wiz, exhibiting prodigious skill in sound design, circuit bending, programming, and as an educator. He is an active musician and improviser around Chicago, playing in bands such as Dhalgren and El is a Sound of Joy.

 

Olivia Junell: Development & Outreach Director

Contact Olivia

Olivia Junell's role as Development & Outreach Director focuses primarily on reaching out within and beyond ESS's already strong support bases, developing opportunities for deeper involvement with the organization for a wide range of individuals, and continuing to grow community partnerships.

A native Texan, Olivia moved to Chicago in 2013 to pursue a dual Masters in Arts Administration and Public Policy and Modern Art History and Critical Writing at the School of the Art Institute Chicago. Before moving Olivia worked in development for over 8 years, most recently as Development Manager at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

Olivia is also Managing Director of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival and serves on the board of Honey Pot Performance.

 

Nicolas Rodriguez: Marketing Director

Contact Nicolas

Nicolas Rodriguez is the newest member of the ESS team and brings with him fresh ideas both for programming and the organization’s public face. In addition to managing ESS’s website, mailing lists, press communication, and social media, Rodriguez serves as in-house graphic designer. 

 

Lou Mallozzi: Founder / Director Emeritus

Founder Lou Mallozzi is an artist, arts administrator, and educator. He is a founding member of ESS and was Associate Director since its inception in 1986 until 1999, when he became Executive Director. His duties include developing programming and organizational partnerships, and overseeing administrative and financial operations. During his time at ESS he has facilitated the presentation of work by several hundred artists and ensembles to Chicago audiences by curating, organizing, or co-producing scores of performances, exhibitions, broadcasts, roundtable discussions, and other cultural programs. These include the ESS Florasonic sound installation series, the Outer Ear Festival of Sound (now the Outer Ear Series), the Sounds From Chicago radio series (1988-1996), the Artist Residency Program, and others.  He oversaw ESS’s studio renovations in 2001 and 2006, the initiation of the Creative Audio Archive in 2003, and the establishment of Audible Gallery in 2006. He has been invited to speak on numerous panels concerning sound as art, public art practice, and historic and theoretical topics in contemporary art practice.  His own practice as an artist engaged primarily with sound has received considerable attention, including performances and exhibitions in the US, Canada, and Europe, as well as grants and residencies from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, the Chicago-Lucerne Sister Cities Program, and others. He is on the faculty of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he teaches in the Sound Department with an emphasis on sound art, sound installation, creative production techniques, and interdisciplinary art practice. Lou retired from his position of Executive Director in July of 2016.

 

Board

Drew Roulo: President And Chair

Director of Asset Servicing, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management
Expertise: financial planning and fiscal management.

Ed Herrmann: Treasurer

Freelance audio producer and composer
Affiliations: Association of Independents in Radio, Public Radio Exchange, Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
Expertise: Small business finance, programming.

Kim Alpert

Founder, Make Amazing; Artist
Expertise: Experience based immersion, design, interactive architecture, new and emerging media concepts and technologies, event production

Carrie Cooper

Partner & Chief People Officer, Dark Matter Coffee
Affiliations: Ithaca Underground, Ithaca, NY, Board Member; The Chicago Outfit Roller Derby, Chicago; Hope for the Day, Chicago (Dark Matter Coffee Partner Organization); Garfield Park Garden Network, Chicago, (Dark Matter Coffee Partner Organization); Hyde Park Art Center, Volunteer (formerly Finance & Operations Manager & Art Instructor).
Expertise: community partnerships; events organization; financial management.

Lou Mallozzi

Adjunct Professor and Graduate Coordinator, Sound Department, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Artist, curator, and educator. Co-founder and former executive director – now director emeritus – Experimental Sound Studio.
Expertise: Contemporary interdisciplinary arts; arts administration, curating, cultural events organizing, cultural organization partnerships, post-secondary arts education.

Darin Walsh

Sr. Manager, Product Content, Shure Incorporated.
Affiliations: Trustee, DEW Foundation.
Expertise: Management, content technology, community access to culture and social services

 

 
Sandy Ewen plays at 7:30! If you can't make it, stream the concert live at ESS.org/option. @sandyewen
Sandy Ewen plays at 7:30! If you can't make it, stream the concert live at ESS.org/option. @sandyewen
Monday! Doors 7. Music 7:30 Sound artist, visual artist and architect Sandy Ewen makes her debut at Option with a set of solo music. A conversation about her work follows. September OPTION concerts are sponsored by @luhringaugustine #luhringaugustine
Monday! Doors 7. Music 7:30 Sound artist, visual artist and architect Sandy Ewen makes her debut at Option with a set of solo music. A conversation about her work follows. September OPTION concerts are sponsored by @luhringaugustine #luhringaugustine
ANNOUNCING OPTION AUDIO ON BANDCAMP! OPTION AUDIO is a digital album series that highlights key performances from the ongoing Option program of improvised and experimental music. Every Thursday through November 2018, a completely unique recording from the most significant members of the contemporary music community will be made available to listeners, culled from a catalog of weekly concerts that have been taking place at ESS throughout the majority of each year since June of 2015. experimentalsoundstudio.bandcamp.com
ANNOUNCING OPTION AUDIO ON BANDCAMP! OPTION AUDIO is a digital album series that highlights key performances from the ongoing Option program of improvised and experimental music. Every Thursday through November 2018, a completely unique recording from the most significant members of the contemporary music community will be made available to listeners, culled from a catalog of weekly concerts that have been taking place at ESS throughout the majority of each year since June of 2015. experimentalsoundstudio.bandcamp.com
ANNOUNCING Dan the Automator with DJ Hard Rich as headliners for ESS’s 2018 Benefit Concert on Thursday, October 4. Do not miss this show! Tickets at sleeping-village.com. . @dan_the_a has been a key collaborator in a wide range of projects including @officialkoolkeith’s #droctagonecologyst, partnering with @djprincepaul to firm #handsomeboymodelingschool, working with @del.tha.funky.homosapien to from #deltron3030, and collaborating with Mary Elizabeth Winstead on Got a Girl, among many others. . @djhardrich is lead developer at The Glue Factory and @thudrumble. He’ll be creating visuals for the set on 10/4.
ESS is pleased to announce that the Ben LaMar Gay Quartet featuring the great Ed Wilkerson will join the ESS 2018 Benefit Concert line-up! Join us Thursday, 10/4 - tickets at sleeping-village.com. . A default descendent and long time participant in the legendary #AACM, Ben is nearly omnipresent in the current zeitgeist if progressive jazz sounds sprouting from Chicago. . #benlamargay #edwilkerson #jazz #internationalanthem #chicagomusic
ANNOUNCING Anteloper ft. Jaimie Branch & Jason Nazary will perform as part of the 2018 ESS Benefit Concert, 10/4 at @sl33pingvillag3! Tickets at sleeping-village.com. . Anteloper is the electric brain child of @jaimiebranch and @jason.nazary. With deep rhythmic passages, telepathic improvisations and effortless melodic negotiations, Anteloper pushes forward, swinging its horns all the while. . Each day this week we’ll announce another performer in the Benefit line-up. Stay tuned! . #anteloper #jaimiebranch #flyordie #internationalanthem #improvisedmusic
¡REMINDER! SEPTEMBER 16 DEADLINE!!! Now in its sixth year, OSCILLATIONS presents concerts by artists selected from submissions received in response to an open call for proposals. ESS will present chosen artists in a series of 3-4 performances between November 2 and December 1st, 2018. (Depending on the nature of the selected projects, we may feature either one or two acts per evening.) Emphasis will not be placed on any particular genre or style; the main criterion for selection is the demonstration of experimentation, exploration, and innovation in the artist’s/group’s chosen idiom. Preference will be given to artists presenting new work, and/or work that falls outside of conventional formats. Details: ess.org/blog
¡REMINDER! SEPTEMBER 16 DEADLINE!!! Now in its sixth year, OSCILLATIONS presents concerts by artists selected from submissions received in response to an open call for proposals. ESS will present chosen artists in a series of 3-4 performances between November 2 and December 1st, 2018. (Depending on the nature of the selected projects, we may feature either one or two acts per evening.) Emphasis will not be placed on any particular genre or style; the main criterion for selection is the demonstration of experimentation, exploration, and innovation in the artist’s/group’s chosen idiom. Preference will be given to artists presenting new work, and/or work that falls outside of conventional formats. Details: ess.org/blog
Max Johnson, Dave Rempis, & Sam Pluta getting ready to hit! Doors at 7 music at 7:30. Stream the concert live at ESS.org/option
Max Johnson, Dave Rempis, & Sam Pluta getting ready to hit! Doors at 7 music at 7:30. Stream the concert live at ESS.org/option
OPTION - September 10, 2018 Doors At 7. Music At 7:30pm Prolific bassist and composer Max Johnson marks his Option debut with a solo set followed by an improvised trio with Dave Rempis on saxophones and Sam Pluta on electronics. September OPTION Concerts Are Sponsored By @luhringaugustine #luhringaugustine
OPTION - September 10, 2018 Doors At 7. Music At 7:30pm Prolific bassist and composer Max Johnson marks his Option debut with a solo set followed by an improvised trio with Dave Rempis on saxophones and Sam Pluta on electronics. September OPTION Concerts Are Sponsored By @luhringaugustine #luhringaugustine
We regret to inform you that tonight’s show is cancelled. Due to inclement weather and flight delays, Don Dietrich will not be able to make it to Chicago tonight. Join us for Max Johnson next Monday. Thanks again to Luhring Augustine Gallery for sponsoring Option in September. @luhringaugustine #luhringaugustine
We regret to inform you that tonight’s show is cancelled. Due to inclement weather and flight delays, Don Dietrich will not be able to make it to Chicago tonight. Join us for Max Johnson next Monday. Thanks again to Luhring Augustine Gallery for sponsoring Option in September. @luhringaugustine #luhringaugustine
Monday! Doors at 7:00p Music at 7:30p Legendary saxophonist Don Dietrich performs a solo set. A conversation about his work will follow. Option in September is generously supported by Luhring Augustine Gallery. @luhringaugustine
Monday! Doors at 7:00p Music at 7:30p Legendary saxophonist Don Dietrich performs a solo set. A conversation about his work will follow. Option in September is generously supported by Luhring Augustine Gallery. @luhringaugustine
Håvard Wiik @ Option. You can stream all of the Option concerts live at ESS.org/option Stay tuned for the September lineup.
Håvard Wiik @ Option. You can stream all of the Option concerts live at ESS.org/option Stay tuned for the September lineup.
Monday at Option! Solo sets by accordionist Ted Reichman and pianist Håvard Wiik Doors At 7. Music At 7:30pm
Monday at Option! Solo sets by accordionist Ted Reichman and pianist Håvard Wiik Doors At 7. Music At 7:30pm
CALL FOR PROPOSALS!!! Now in its sixth year, OSCILLATIONS presents concerts by artists selected from submissions received in response to an open call for proposals. ESS will present chosen artists in a series of 3-4 performances between November 2 and December 1st, 2018. (Depending on the nature of the selected projects, we may feature either one or two acts per evening.) Emphasis will not be placed on any particular genre or style; the main criterion for selection is the demonstration of experimentation, exploration, and innovation in the artist’s/group’s chosen idiom. Preference will be given to artists presenting new work, and/or work that falls outside of conventional formats. Details: ess.org/blog
CALL FOR PROPOSALS!!! Now in its sixth year, OSCILLATIONS presents concerts by artists selected from submissions received in response to an open call for proposals. ESS will present chosen artists in a series of 3-4 performances between November 2 and December 1st, 2018. (Depending on the nature of the selected projects, we may feature either one or two acts per evening.) Emphasis will not be placed on any particular genre or style; the main criterion for selection is the demonstration of experimentation, exploration, and innovation in the artist’s/group’s chosen idiom. Preference will be given to artists presenting new work, and/or work that falls outside of conventional formats. Details: ess.org/blog
Congrats to the filmmakers and to everyone who got tickets to the sold out screening of The Area tonight at Gene Siskel. We were proud to mix the sound for this Chicago documentary at ESS. . #blackharvestfilmfestival #chicagostories #genesiskelfilmcenter #soundtrack
Congrats to the filmmakers and to everyone who got tickets to the sold out screening of The Area tonight at Gene Siskel. We were proud to mix the sound for this Chicago documentary at ESS. . #blackharvestfilmfestival #chicagostories #genesiskelfilmcenter #soundtrack
Join us this Saturday @ 3pm for ‘Reality Tunnels’ A Workshop by Muyassar Kurdi. . $15/$10 students and members Tickets @ ess.org . Muyassar Kurdi’s engaging, lively workshops are focused on movement, voice and theatrical techniques with an emphasis on freedom of movement, spontaneity, meditative improvisation and the relationship between body and voice. She encourages participants to free their voices with wordless song and phonemes and builds interdependence between sound and movement through exercises built on trust, listening and slow, concentrated, ‘soul’-generated theatrics. Photo by Gunnar Lettow.
Join us this Saturday @ 3pm for ‘Reality Tunnels’ A Workshop by Muyassar Kurdi. . $15/$10 students and members Tickets @ ess.org . Muyassar Kurdi’s engaging, lively workshops are focused on movement, voice and theatrical techniques with an emphasis on freedom of movement, spontaneity, meditative improvisation and the relationship between body and voice. She encourages participants to free their voices with wordless song and phonemes and builds interdependence between sound and movement through exercises built on trust, listening and slow, concentrated, ‘soul’-generated theatrics. Photo by Gunnar Lettow.
OPTION 9/20 features bassist Luke Stewart in a solo performance and in conversation with Ken Vandermark. . Stewart was profiled in the Washington Post as “holding down the jazz scene,” and in 2017 alone was named “Best Musical Omnivore,” “Jazz Artist of the Year,” and a “Jazz Revolutionary” in various publications. Don’t miss this show! . Performance begins at 7:30pm CST. Join us in at the Studio or stream it live at ess.org/option
OPTION 9/20 features bassist Luke Stewart in a solo performance and in conversation with Ken Vandermark. . Stewart was profiled in the Washington Post as “holding down the jazz scene,” and in 2017 alone was named “Best Musical Omnivore,” “Jazz Artist of the Year,” and a “Jazz Revolutionary” in various publications. Don’t miss this show! . Performance begins at 7:30pm CST. Join us in at the Studio or stream it live at ess.org/option
This Sunday, August 19, 3-5p we will be opening a new sound installation as part of the Florasonic series at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. . 'Mt. Shamao' is a site responsive installation inhabiting Lincoln Park's Fern Room by Milad Mozari and Mitsu Salmon. The work looks at man-made tropical paradises as connected to archives, importation, and utopias. . Please join us this Sunday for the opening reception and an opportunity meet the artists. . You can hear the installation daily 9-5p through October 28, 2018.
This Sunday, August 19, 3-5p we will be opening a new sound installation as part of the Florasonic series at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. . 'Mt. Shamao' is a site responsive installation inhabiting Lincoln Park's Fern Room by Milad Mozari and Mitsu Salmon. The work looks at man-made tropical paradises as connected to archives, importation, and utopias. . Please join us this Sunday for the opening reception and an opportunity meet the artists. . You can hear the installation daily 9-5p through October 28, 2018.
TB to last night's OPTION concert with Sarah Hughes and Steve Hunt. What a deep, versatile and heart felt performance it was! #experimental #sound #studio #ess #option
TB to last night's OPTION concert with Sarah Hughes and Steve Hunt. What a deep, versatile and heart felt performance it was! #experimental #sound #studio #ess #option
Sarah and Steve are in!!! Tonight 7:30pm 🎛🔥 Join us for OPTION's Sarah Hughes Solo + Sarah Hughes and Steve Hunt Duo! #experimental #sound #studio #chicago #ess
Sarah and Steve are in!!! Tonight 7:30pm 🎛🔥 Join us for OPTION's Sarah Hughes Solo + Sarah Hughes and Steve Hunt Duo! #experimental #sound #studio #chicago #ess
 

5925 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660. USA

info@ess.org

773-998-1069

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Funders

ESS programs & services are made possible through the generosity of our members and donors, including significant contributions from anonymous donors. Major support is provided by the DEW Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and The Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

Partners

Lost Arts
Black Cinema House
Chicago Film Archives
Constellation
Links Hall
Comfort Station
Frequency Series
The Bridge
Chicago Park District
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago Cultural Center
Morton Feldman Chamber Players
Chicago Artists Coalition
The Nightingale
Spudnik Press
Goethe-Institut Chicago
Homeroom
Sound American
The Poetry Foundation
Dark Matter Coffee
Chicago Archictecture Biennial
CAPE
Amundsen High School
WFMT
High Concept Labs

Volunteers

Jenny Bendelstein
Michael Gillilan
Rebecca Himelstein
Ralph Loza
Kyle Maurisak
Colin Morris

Contracted
Engineers

Todd Carter
Ralph Loza
Stephen Ptaçek

Members

Doyle Armbrust
Brian Ashby
Lawrence Axelrod
Brian Baxter
Lynn Bechtold
Keith Berg
Olivia Block
Marc Bonadies
Beth Bradfish
Jennifer Brown
Stephen Buono
Elizabeth Bustamante
Michael Catolico
William Ching
Daniel Christain
Susan Chun
Amanda DeBoer
Timothy Edwards
Nomi Epstein
William Faber
Ben Gibbins
Browne Goodwin
Aaron Gottl
Becky Grajeda
David Grant
Mary Griffin
Laura Harrison
Kyle Henry
Kikú Hibino
Stephen Hunt
Eliezer Kaplan
Matthew Kordonowy
Thomas Lunt
Brianna Matzke
Mary Mazurek
Shirley Mordine
Gregory O'Drobinak
Isabel Olive
Bill Ovca
Christopher Preissing
Hal Rammel
Richard Reger
Ben Remsen
Adam Rogers
Paula Romanaux
Fred Schmalz
Jason Shanley
Charlie Simokaitis
Mark Skillicorn
Adam Sonderberg
Jean Sousa
Lisa Stone
Deborah Stratman
Glenn Thomas
Ken Vandermark
Mary Vida
Darlene Vinicky
Susan Voelz
Mary Wallman
Mike Weis
Daniele Wilmouth
Michael Zerang
Ishmael Zghoul