Edward Ruchalski

Edward Ruchalski is professor of practice of music in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Le Moyne College. In addition to teaching music courses in theory, history, popular song, the freshman Core course Hip-Hop to Hollers, and others, Professor Ruchalski designed the new, multidisciplinary course for the Core, Neurons and Notes, which explores the intersection of sound and the biological basis of its perception. Professor Ruchalski serves as director of Le Moyne’s Rock Ensemble, and he advises students in the music minor. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Theory and Composition from SUNY Fredonia and a Masters in Music from the University of Miami.

Professor Ruchalski is a composer, sound artist, field recordist and maker of his own instruments. Ruchalski has been commissioned by the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Helen Boatwright, Syracuse’s Society for New Music, and dG Studios, among others. Ruchalski’s work has been chosen for performance by the Buffalo Guitar Quartet, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Robert Black, Shiau-uen Ding, Stephen Porter, and others. His compositions have been performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, Mass MOCA, Miller Theatre, Symphony Space on Broadway, the Festival of Miami, Harvard University, Yale University, Kirk in the Hills in Detroit, the Everson Museum of Art, and elsewhere.

Ruchalski’s work has been widely reviewed—including by Paul Griffiths in The New York Times, by Thurston Moore in Arthur Magazine, by François Couture in AllMusic and by Ed Pinsent in London’s The Sound Projector.

Ruchalski’s composition “For Carrie Mae Weems” has been performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as part of MacArthur Genius Fellow Carrie Mae Weems’ new production, Grace Notes: Reflections for Now, a gift for Barack and Michelle Obama.

As a soloist, Ruchalski has performed his ambient laptop works at The Quiet Village Festival in New Paltz, N.Y. and during the National Water Dance in Syracuse, N.Y. Ruchalski was awarded a two-year artist residency at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (Fall 2016 – Fall 2018). The residency culminated in a multimedia solo show, Pond Songs: Recordings and Photographs of Green Frogs and Aquatic Insects.

Ruchalski’s composition, “Winter Light,” is included on the Innova recording Serendipity (2009), his arrangement of Radiohead’s “Street Spirit” is included on Endeavor Classics’ recording of pianist Andrew Russo, Mix Tape (2008)—and his work is included on six other compilations of note. To date, he has twenty solo studio recordings available, including: WaterTrain (Humbug, Norway); Dark Night (Afe, Italy); Refined Localities (Taalem, France); and Four Pieces for Acoustic Guitar and Field Recordings (Pseudoarcana, New Zealand).

Professor Ruchalski also writes and publishes his own essays on music. Previous publications include essays on Paul Simon and Nick Lowe in the journal Stone Canoe, as well as interviews with Roberto Sierra and the Castellani-Andriaccio Duo in Soundboard Magazine and with poet Michael Burkard in Intersection.

Ruchalski has been the recipient of two Artist Grants from Syracuse’s Cultural Resources Council for his compositions using motorized string and percussion sculptures of his own design, and the recipient of a NYSCA AIE Grant for his work with students at Meachem Elementary School.
For the past 15 years, Ruchalski has taught private lessons in guitar and composition at his home studio in Syracuse, N.Y.

Education:

• B.F.A, SUNY Fredonia
• M.M., University of Miami