Composer, performer, and installation artist Michael J. Schumacher works predominantly with electronic and digital media, specializing in computer generated sound environments that evolve continuously for long time periods. In their realization, Schumacher uses multiple speaker configurations that relate the sounds of the installation to the architecture of the exhibition space. Architectural and acoustical considerations thereby become basic structural elements.

Schumacher’s sound installations have been heard at Art in General, Apex Art, PS 1, the Queens Museum, The Kitchen and Sculpture Center in New York City, CCNOA in Brussels, the Technical University and Podewil in Berlin, the Museum for Applied Arts in Frankfurt, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon, Triskel Arts Center in Cork, Ireland, Transmissions Festival in Chicago, SFIFEM in Sante Fe, the Waveform Festival in Sydney, Via 7 Festival in Paris, )toon) Festival in Haarlem, and others. Schumacher’s composition “Grid”, a computer generated score that unfolds in real time, has been in exhibitions in New York, Barcelona and Houston. His “Living Room Pieces” is permanently installed in an apartment at the Chelsea Hotel, and runs 24 hours/day, continuously generating new forms.

Schumacher has published six solo CDs, a duo CD with Donald Miller, and an LP with Miller and Charles Curtis. He is on the Sub Rosa anthology of noise and electronic music and the lower case 2002 compilation, as well as on an LP of remixes of music by Oren Ambarchi on the Staubgold label. Schumacher’s CD "Room Pieces", on the XI label, was rated best of 2003 for “modern composition” by The Wire magazine. XI Records has recently published a set of five sound installations as computer applications, playable on up to eight speakers, which may be installed on a computer to create sound environments in the home.

Along with Nisi Jacobs, Schumacher is the founder of DRAW, an audio-video performance group. Joined by Tim Keiper, Alex Waterman, Bruce Andrews and others, they create immersive live sets based on collaborative compositions. DRAW’s website is http://drawnyc.com.

Schumacher has lectured at Bard College, The New School, The School for Visual Arts, and Juilliard. He has taught electronic music, piano, composition, theory and ear training since 1983. He currently teaches at Polytechnic University in Brooklyn, NY.