An Evening with Matthew Burtner

Wednesday, April 29, 6pm @ The Garden Theater

The Elberta Labor Heritage Center (ELHC) was awarded a $5,500 GIG Fund grant from Arts Midwest to support an artist residency with internationally recognized composer, sound artist, and eco-acoustician Matthew Burtner.  The project is a collaboration between the Elberta Labor Heritage Center (WUWU Community Radio), Sawbill Surf Club, and Interlochen Public Radio (IPR).

Matthew Burtner is an Emmy Award–winning composer whose work bridges music, science, technology, and ecology. Born in Alaska and deeply influenced by northern landscapes, Burtner is known internationally for transforming environmental data—such as the rhythms of glaciers, wind, and water—into immersive musical experiences. His work has been featured by NASA, PBS NewsHour, National Geographic, and the BBC, among many others. 

This event will help introduce the community to Matthew through conversation, sharing of past works, and a participatory sound experience.

More about the residency:

Taking place between April 27th – May 15th, this residency will explore the intersection of sound, story, environment, and community by creating new experimental audio works inspired by the landscapes and people of Northern Michigan. A pioneer of musical ecoacoustics—a practice that integrates environmental energy into musical forms — Matthew Burtner has been recognized for crafting “totally unique, compelling music that is directly influenced by the natural world” (New Music Box). During a three-week residency, he will immerse himself in local environments to compose site-specific pieces that invite listeners into a more intimate relationship with place. Community engagement is central: Burtner will host two public listening sessions (one featuring earlier works and a chance to get to know him and his creative process, and one presenting his new Michigan-inspired compositions), lead a participatory workshop where participants explore sound and environment together, and share his evolving work through weekly radio segments. Ultimately, Burtner seeks to deepen community connection to the natural world, demonstrating how music can foster care, attentiveness, and dialogue between people and their environment. 

Dates for the public events will be as follows:

• Wednesday, April 29, 6-8pm – An Evening with Matthew Burtner – FREE
• Saturday, May 9, 1-4pm – Community Listening Workshop – Register here. 
• Wednesday, May 13, 6pm-8pm – Community Potluck and Final Listening Session – FREE

The GIG Fund supports Midwestern organizations in bringing professional artists into their communities through creative, engaging public activities, ensuring that audiences across the region have access to high-quality arts experiences. 

This project is supported in part by Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts.