Gretchen Jude

Gretchen Jude is an award-winning experimental performer, sound artist and composer for film and dance. Much of her work could be described as synesthetic since she integrates the senses as a way to engage the human potential of her audiences. Growing up a science-fiction fan in the wild state of Idaho sparked Gretchen’s fascination with the tensions between nature and technology. Through embodied sonic practices such as soundmapping, field recording and soundwalks, she explores the enigmatic territories of vibration, noise and musical perception. Years of living in Japan have shaped Gretchen’s approach to aesthetics. She has studied multiple instruments and genres of Japanese traditional music, and her extensive listening and sounding experiences give her a unique perspective on audiovisual media. Gretchen holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies with an emphasis in Practice as Research from the University of California, Davis, and an M.F.A. in Electronic Music & Recording Media from Mills College, along with certificates from the Sawai Koto Institute (Tokyo) and the Deep Listening Institute. Her recent film soundtracks include Sundance and Berlinale features Free Chol Soo Lee (2022) and Midnight Traveler (2019). Cassettes and CDs on Full Spectrum and Edgetone Records number among her eclectic catalog of audio releases. Gretchen is currently Assistant Professor of Film and Media Arts at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.