TrioMetrik
Members & Bios
Founder/Director/Musician:
Keith McMillen has been working his entire adult life on one single problem - how to play live interactive music in an ensemble using extended instruments moderated by computer intelligence. This goal has required him to create scores of new instruments, patented technologies and multiple successful companies in order to advance the technology sufficiently to reach his performance objectives. Keith began his audio career in 1979, when he founded Zeta Music. The company's revolutionary electronic instrument designs created a new market in the music industry, and the brand “Zeta” is synonymous with the modern violin. Later, as Vice President of R&D at Gibson Guitars, Keith worked with UC Berkeley’s CNMAT and created a new technology group focusing on audio networking, synthesizers and string instruments. As Director of Engineering at Harman Kardon, he formed an innovative new software product division dealing with audio processing and distributed networks. Keith founded Octiv in 1999 to solve major issues with live audio and led the company as both technologist and business guru raising over $20M from VCs such as 3i and Intel Capital. In April of 2005, Keith successfully sold Octiv to Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) and is personally funding the current operations of the BEAM Foundation. Keith received his BS in Acoustics under James Beauchamp from the University of Illinois where he also trained in classical guitar and studied composition with Herbert Brun and Sal Martriano. Keith has spent 25 years developing MACIAS – an integrated composition performance system that is the foundation of TrioMetrik’s music. He now works full time at composing, creating and performing while pursuing his original goal of a next generation music he has termed NuRoque.
Musicians:
Ashley Adams received her Bachelor's in double bass performance at the University of Arizona School of Music, in 1996. She currently performs regularly in both classical and club venues and has appeared at numerous local and International New Music festivals. In 1997, The Ashley Adams Trio put out, "Flowers for Ms. Dalloway", music based on the Virginia Wolfe novel on the Evander Label. Her performance credits also include Ted Saveres, Ralph Carney, Beth Custer, Eugene Chadborne, Tin Hat Trio, the Women's Philharmonic, Khadra International Dance Company, Bay Area Balalaika Ensemble, Trio Garufa (Tango), The Hulagains ( Hawaiian Trio), Zmrzlina, Octomutt, BottomFeeders (electric cello/bass duo) , and the Bay Area Bass Band. Ashley has taught privately, for the SF symphony's youth outreach program, and as a clinician at the Golden Gate Bass Camp. In addition to her composition and bass playing, Ashley has immersed herself in music programming and audio processing. She has worked on MACAIS and performed with Keith since 1998.
Drawing from a childhood dissatisfied with classical music recitals, Marielle Jakobsons aims to rebuild musical performance as a breathing system of sound, people, and space. Born in Cleveland in 1982, 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. At the CCMIX in Paris, France, she studied computer music composition with Gerard Pape, Jean-Claude Risset, Trevor Wishart, and Curtis Roads. Completing her MFA in Electronic Music at Mills in May 2006, her thesis work deconstructs the violin as both performance interface and sound generator utilizing custom electronics and interactive computer programming. Recent solo work has been heard at Les Voutes (Paris) and the Luggage Store Gallery (SF), as well as performances with Agnes Szelag in the electro-acoustic pop duo myrmyr.
“TrioMetrik is a modern composer's dream come true, an ensemble for live performance
that combines composition and improvisation at a core level. It is a group that integrates both approaches and amplifies the strengths of each.”
- Paul Dresher
Composer and Musician