The announcement follows the tremendously successful launch of the two-year MS degree in Music Technology in 2007 and the launch of the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology in 2008. “The new PhD program already has a strong infrastructure in place offering students a wealth of potential research projects and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration,” said Frank Clark, chair of the Georgia Tech School of Music.

“Traditionally, music technology academicians have focused on technology for experts and high-art,” said Gil Weinberg, director of the Center for Music Technology. “The new PhD program will position Georgia Tech at the forefront of fundamental shifts in the music industry, providing well-rounded doctorate-level graduates for a growing demand in music technology for novices; social and mobile media; education; and accessibility.”

An international center for creative and technological research in music, the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology draws faculty from leading programs across campus, including Human-Computer Interaction, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Design, Digital Media and Mechanical Engineering, underscoring the unique interdisciplinary research environment. The Center’s rigorous research agendas range from acoustics to music therapy; from interactive game design to robotic musicianship. Two new companies already have spun off from the Center: ZOOZ Mobile and Khush. The Center also houses the annual Margaret Guthman New Musical Instrument Competition to discover new modes of musical expression, and Sonic Generator, the contemporary music ensemble-in-residence that combines the faculty in the School of Music with performers from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

“The PhD program will further utilize the compelling power of music as a gateway to deep student-centered learning in the sciences, mathematics, cognitive sciences, engineering and design,” said Clark. “We also look forward to broadening and strengthening partnerships among cultural institutions, in the arts, the entertainment industry and high-tech enterprises around the globe.”