La Barbara, Joan (1947–)

American vocalist and composer. Born Joan Linda Lotz, June 8, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; attended Syracuse University (1965–68); New York University, BS in Music Education (1970); Master Classes at Tanglewood with Phyllis Curtin (1967, 1968); also studied voice with Helen Boatwright and Marian Szekely-Freschl; m. Morton Subotnick (composer of electronic music), 1979.

Pioneer in the field of contemporary classical music and "soundart," sang in ensembles of composers Steve Reich (1971–74) and Phillip Glass (1973–76), before specializing in extended techniques such as circular breathing and multiphonics; had pieces written for her by John Cage, Morton Feldman, Phillip Glass, Rhys Chatham and others; founded Wizard Records (1976); recorded numerous albums, including Voice Is the Original Instrument (1976), October Music: Star Showers and Extraterrestrials (1980), As Lightning Comes, In Flashes (1983), In the Dreamtime (1990), Sound Paintings/Joan La Barbara (1991) and Awakenings: For Chamber Ensemble (1994); wrote such compositions as Winds of the Canyon (1986), Events in the Elsewhere (1990) and Dragons on the Wall (2001); featured on soundtracks of such films as Alien: Resurrection (1997) and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), as well as independent films of Richard Blau, Amy Kravitz and others; produced and co-hosted radio program "Other Voices, Other Sounds"; taught at Hochschule der Kunst in Berlin (1979–80), Cité des Arts in Paris (1980–81), California Institute of Arts (1981–86), University of New Mexico (1999–2001) and College of Santa Fe (1996–2002); appeared in concert with Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Women's Philharmonic, among others.