UBC Music Alum Kiran Bhumber at the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM) in Paris (2026).
In this Q&A, Kiran Bhumber (BMus’14) reflects on her journey through the Minor in Applied Music Technology (AMT) at UBC and how it shaped her creative, professional, and research-driven path. From finding an outlet for creativity and exploration during her undergraduate studies and building an international artistic practice to working at Electronic Arts and presenting research at Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music (IRCAM) in Paris. Kiran shares how music technology opened doors to innovation, collaboration, and immersive sound exploration.
Kiran also speaks to the importance of supportive learning environments and donor-funded opportunities to empower the next generation of music‑technology creators to take risks, experiment boldly, and help shape a more inclusive creative future.
What inspired you to pursue the Minor in Applied Music Technology at UBC?
The Minor in Applied Music Technology felt like a perfect union between my interests in music and science. Before beginning my degree, I already had some experience with music production, composition, and electronic music, and I was also deeply fascinated by science, especially the physics of sound and light.
At UBC, the music technology courses gave me a much-needed outlet for creativity that I wasn’t finding elsewhere in my studies. They opened up a space where I could experiment, compose, and explore the relationship between sound, technology, and artistic expression. That combination of creative freedom and technical inquiry made the minor feel like a natural and exciting path for me.
“At UBC, the music technology courses gave me a much-needed outlet for creativity that I wasn’t finding elsewhere in my studies. They opened up a space where I could experiment, compose, and explore the relationship between sound, technology, and artistic expression. That combination of creative freedom and technical inquiry made the minor feel like a natural and exciting path for me.”
You’ve built a career that bridges artistic practice, industry experience, and research, and now includes presenting at IRCAM Forum in Paris. How did your Music Technology education inspire that path?
Kiran Bhumber, UBC Laptop Orchestra (2015).
My Music Technology education at UBC played a major role in shaping both my artistic practice and professional path. After graduating, I committed to building a career as an artist. I began actively seeking out community by attending shows, reaching out to artists I admired, and arranging coffee meetings with people whose work I was curious about. Over time, those relationships grew into collaborations, which led to opportunities to present my work locally and internationally across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia at festivals such as MUTEK, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, International Symposium of Electronic Music, SXSW and more.
In parallel, I found that the skills I developed through music technology and interactive performance projects translated naturally into the commercial audio industry, which eventually led me to working at Electronic Arts. There, I was able to think about sound not only in physical spaces, but also in interactive virtual environments.
My studies at UBC also sparked my first experiments in spatial audio through composing and presenting work in the Laptop Orchestra. After graduating, I continued moving toward multichannel sound, immersive listening environments, and new ways of thinking about composition and mixing. Over time, that exploration developed into an ongoing research and creative trajectory in spatial audio, which has now led to presenting a project on dynamic mixing in immersive environments at IRCAM Forum in Paris. That feels especially meaningful because IRCAM was one of the major music and audio technology institutions I first learned about during my time at UBC.
“I found that the skills I developed through music technology and interactive performance projects translated naturally into the commercial audio industry, which eventually led me to working at Electronic Arts.”
When you think about your time studying Music Technology, what aspects of that learning environment most empowered you to experiment, grow, and take risks as an artist?
What stands out most to me is how nurturing and encouraging the environment was. Dr. Bob Pritchard and Dr. Keith Hamel created a space that offered both guidance and freedom: guidance through strong mentorship and feedback, and freedom in the sense that students were trusted to explore, make mistakes, and discover their own artistic voice. That balance was incredibly important for my growth. It helped me build confidence not only in my technical abilities, but also in my instincts as an artist. I also gained valuable experience in taking a project or performance from concept to realization, often through quick project turnaround and rapid prototyping, which gave me a lasting sense of independence and creative agency.
“I would love to see more women, gender-diverse, and BIPOC artists encouraged to enter these courses, experiment boldly, and help shape the future of music and technology. Donors have the opportunity to support not just individual students, but the future of a more innovative, inclusive, and adventurous creative community.”
This Dr. Bob Pritchard and Dr. Keith Hamel Award in Music Technology and New Media supports students who want to experiment and innovate. Why do you believe this kind of student support is important, and what impact do you hope donors can make for the next generation of music-tech creators?
Music technology is such an interdisciplinary field. It teaches students not only technical and artistic skills, but also how to collaborate, adapt, listen, and grow through experimentation. Donor support can help create the conditions for that kind of learning to thrive.
Support like this is incredibly important because experimentation and innovation require time, resources, and encouragement. For many students, financial support can make the difference between simply getting through a program and having the freedom to truly explore, take risks, and develop their own creative voice. I also hope support for this award helps broaden access to the field, especially for those who may not always see themselves represented in music technology spaces. I would love to see more women, gender-diverse, and BIPOC artists encouraged to enter these courses, experiment boldly, and help shape the future of music and technology. Donors have the opportunity to support not just individual students, but the future of a more innovative, inclusive, and adventurous creative community.
A small donation can make a big difference!
Invest in the next generation of students exploring music technology and new media at UBC by removing financial barriers and putting the tools, training and cross-disciplinary collaboration in students’ hands. With your generosity, we can expand opportunities and build a strong network of students working at the intersection of music, technology and new media.
