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Dafna Naphtali

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Dafna Naphtali
Alma materNew York University
Occupations
  • Composer
  • singer
  • guitarist
Employer
AwardsGuggenheim Fellowship (2023)
Musical career
GenresElectroacoustic experimental music[1]
InstrumentElectric guitar
Formerly ofMechanique(s)

Dafna Naphtali is an American composer, guitarist, and singer. A 2023 Guggenheim Fellow, she formed the duo Mechanique(s) and released the album What Is It Like To Be A Bat? (2003).

Biography

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After spending a few years playing piano as a child, she played piano and began composing while she was a student at Stuyvesant High School.[2] She studied at New York University, where she got a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz vocal performance and a Master of Music degree in music technology.[3] While at NYU, she discovered Max, a MIDI software which she would later use for most of her compositions.[2]

In November 2000, her piece Landmine was performed at Kathleen Supové and Lisa Celia's NYU concert.[4] She and Hans Tammen formed the duo Mechanique(s); Allan Kozinn of The New York Times said that they "had the most direct ties to classical electronic experimentalism" of all the work at the 2002 Electronic X-travaganza.[5][6] She performed for the electroacoustic InterAction series in February 2002.[7] In 2003, she and Kitty Brazelton released the album What Is It Like To Be A Bat?, with Naphtali as electric guitarist and vocalist.[8]

She was guest vocalist for Barbez's 2013 concert at (Le) Poisson Rouge.[9] In 2023, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition.[10]

She worked for NYU as an adjunct faculty member, before being promoted to full-time in 2014.[1] She is also a part-time assistant professor in music at The New School.[3] She trained in voice pedagogy at Shenandoah University.[3] She has also written a few book chapters and blog posts on music.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Dafna Naphtali". NYU Steinhardt. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Article: An Interview with Dafna Naphtali". Cycling '74. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Dafna Naphtali". The New School. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Gann, Kyle (December 5, 2000). "Resignating with the audience". The Village Voice. p. 129. ProQuest 232276623.
  5. ^ Kozinn, Allan (March 9, 2002). "The Updated Face of Electronic Composition". New York Times. p. B7. ProQuest 432030836.
  6. ^ Majeski, John (February 17, 2005). "MUSIC OUTSIDE THE BOX Asbury Park's Black Box presents Music of Invention series". Asbury Park Press. p. 1. ProQuest 437704380.
  7. ^ Catlin, Roger (January 24, 2002). "TOO-HEAVY METAL FOR BOSTAPH'S ELBOW". Hartford Courant. p. 5. ProQuest 256447641.
  8. ^ McElfresh, Dave (September 5, 2003). "Jazz Sides: On the racks". Goldmine. Vol. 29, no. 18. p. 27. ProQuest 1500184.
  9. ^ "Reconstructing the Music of Roman Jews". New York Times. September 19, 2013. ProQuest 2214571886.
  10. ^ "Dafna Naphtali". Guggenheim Fellowship. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
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