GISELA PATERNO
Musician/Educator/Composer
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WELCOME TO MY MUSIC
When words fail, music speaks
MUSICAL FACETS
An eclectic search of inspiration
From a Rock background I began to play the electric guitar, until I realised the best path to follow was a strong Classical Music foundation, then is when I started my journey searching for different aspects; composing, conducting, performing, and researching from medieval music to the most avant-gard contemporary techniques in spectral music.
Biography
The journey
Gisela is an Argentinian–Italian composer, guitarist, cellist and pianist whose work spans acoustic chamber music, live electronics and avant-garde forms. She earned her diploma from the Santa Ana Institute in 2006 and, in 2012, graduated with a BMus (Hons.) in Composition from the National University of Arts (UNA) in Buenos Aires.
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Her music has been performed at prestigious venues across the globe, including the Cervantes Theatre (Argentina), the Palace of the Legislature of Buenos Aires, the Conservatorio de Música de Buenos Aires, UNLa (National University of Lanús), IUNA (National University of the Arts), UNINORTE University Hall (Paraguay), as well as concert halls in Kansas City (USA), Copenhagen (Denmark) and New York (USA).
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In 2009 Gisela founded GEAM (Grupo de Experimentación Artística Musical), serving as its director, composer and performer. Under the GEAM umbrella—and in collaboration with the Ars Magna Ensemble—she premiered numerous works that fuse real-time musical processes with live video improvisation, employing Max/MSP to create immersive audiovisual experiences.
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As a commissioned composer, Gisela has written for the National University of Lanús and for the IV International Festival of Contemporary Music in Asunción (Paraguay), where her orchestral piece was performed in August 2011. Her “Jest and Riddle, Op. 24” for tenor and piano won a global competition and debuted in New York City in February 2014. That same year, she was one of the winners of the Maroon Trio Competition (promoted by the Blackhouse Collective), composing a work for bassoon, horn and marimba that premiered in Kansas City on April 20, 2014. Her piano cycle “Recuerdos de San Telmo, Op. 27” was choreographed by MaD Circle and presented at a Manhattan performance on August 10, 2014.
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A committed collaborator, Gisela has participated in interdisciplinary projects—most notably as an improviser and cellist alongside dancer and scholar Paula Guzzanti (University of Malta). Since March 2012 she has been a member of UNACOM (United Female Composers of Argentina), and in 2021 she was selected for “Women Aeronauts,” an Argentine Air Force chamber-music initiative celebrating pioneering women in aviation. Her piece “Pintando Soledades” honors Irma Soledad Pintos, Argentina’s youngest paratrooper and aviator. Inspired by her own Galician heritage, in 2023 Gisela extended this project to Spain with “Spanish Women Aeronauts,” dedicating a new work to Elisa “Chichana” Patiño Meléndez and touring with the Fa Camerata.
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Now based in West Kensington, London, Gisela teaches composition and piano, freelances as a composer, and serves as Vice-Director of the West Kensington Music Team. Whether writing for duos, trios, octets or full orchestra, her diverse output reflects a passion for exploring the creative edges of contemporary music.
Composition with Live Electronics
The challenge of mixing the visuals with improvisation in real-time
I found that one of the major challenges as a composer is to interact with technology as another instrument of creation. This opened a new world of timbrical possibilities. Being able to connect on a musical level with real-time audio and visual processing and improvisation is definitively one of my major satisfactions.
Composition for Ensembles
Working with talented musicians from different backgrounds
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In 2006 I founded the GEAM Ensemble with amazing musicians and composers, together, we developed a way to create music with an open mind, working towards a common goal. Throughout my career, I have worked with different ensembles from different parts of the globe, sometimes listening the same piece from different versions; performers contribute with their own idiosyncrasy to the soul of the music.
MUSICAL WORKS - AÂ GLIMPSE
Composing music for me is to be able to connect in different ways to either the listener, to also the musicians that performs my piece. From collective projects in which I worked with different disciplines, to commissions from all around the world that made me connect with people I never met in my life through my music, to dedicate a piece for specific musicians, thinking about how they are as human beings and from there create my music, all this inspires me to make music
Phantasy, Op. 28
For Violin and Piano. London, UK.
This piece touched my heart in a very special way, composed this for two wonderful performers, Hitomi and Sabrina, they brought their unique touch and emotion to the piece. The piece is composed on a Lydian mode, and was thought for olden days.
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The recording was organised by WKMT London.
From A to B
For cello with pedal board, Live electronics and visuals
A corolary of one year project from improvising with Bruno, we added live electronics to our improvisations to which when we felt comfortable with the result, Marcos joined the team with his amazing talent to control visuals. The piece is based on a poem of Beckett. I consider the piece to be a collective work of joined effort of Bruno, Marcos and also the actress wh incorporated her own style and rhythm to the text given to her.
Three in Disguise, Op 23
For Maroon Trio - Horn, Bassoon and Marimba, Kansas. USA
This recording has become a favorite among fans, as it has various pitch ranges paired with amazing instrumental melodies. I worked incredibly hard on all of the arrangements, and I’m proud to be able to present the fans with this amazing piece. Listen to this recording, as well as many other recordings now.
COMPOSITION SERVICES
Lessons
I have ten years of experience teaching musical theory, harmony, Counterpoint and Composition. WKMT studio offers the possibility to study music in the London branch as well as worldwide with our Skype Lessons Program.
CONTACT ME
Want to learn more about me, my music, and my performances? Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Email:
Phone:
02071014479
