Profile

David Rafferty is an Associate Professor of Practice in Music Technology at the American University in Cairo. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Mount Allison University (2000), an M.Mus. in Advanced Music Composition from the Royal College of Music in London, where he received the Cobbett and Hurlstone prize for composition (2010), and a Doctor of Music from McGill University (2018), supported by a Graduate Excellence Fellowship.

Over the years, David’s compositional work has spanned a wide range of media, with a strong focus on integrating real-time electronics and spatial audio. His doctoral thesis structured cell featured 10 performers and a 22.2 speaker dome, combining Max/MSP, live electronics, and 3D audio recording techniques. He has studied composition with Jonathan Cole (RCM) and Brian Cherney (McGill), and honed production strategies under George Massenburg (McGill).

David has presented his research and performances at major international conferences, including the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC) in 2018 (Daegu), 2019 (NYU), and 2024 (Seoul), where he presented the Korean premiere of his gestural-controlled work Destructive Hands.  In 2025, he was selected for the International Gugak Workshop at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, Korea. He is also a member of the Korean Interdisciplinary Art Group 'Oneness'.

David’s musical interests range from acoustic composition and experimental real-time electronics to audio engineering and game audio, with a strong focus on the evolving relationship between technology and music practice. He is continually exploring new directions for the future of composition and sound design. His work has been performed in Korea, England, Poland, Egypt, Germany, and Canada, across both acoustic and digital media. He divides his time between South Korea and Egypt.