It is with respect and gratitude that I acknowledge that I am living, working, creating, and playing on the ancestral, unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.
Kristy Farkas is a composer, performer, crafter and arts administrator based in Victoria, BC, Canada. Embracing collaboration and improvisation, Kristy approaches her sound projects with a collective spirit, entrusting performers as co-creators in the artistic process. Delving into themes of silence, vulnerability, and our connection to environment, her practice often draws inspiration from the intricate textures, forms, and sounds found in nature. Kristy's portfolio spans diverse settings, from concert halls and galleries to intimate cafes, lush gardens, and serene forests, offering audiences immersive experiences across varied listening environments.
Kristy is a co-founder of Soft Time, a composer-performer ensemble with Anna Höstman, Cathy Fern Lewis and Mitch Renaud. She performs with A Place to Listen in Victoria and in 2018 toured in Japan where she performed and recorded with guitarist Shin'ichi Isohata. Kristy was co-founder and host of Sofa Sessions, an experimental improvisation house concert series that took place in her cozy living room. Past projects and collaborations include the Victoria Phonographer’s Union, LaSaM and The Collective. Kristy was also a founding member of CURV, a trio dedicated to the composition and performance of new experimental works in alternative venues.
Kristy completed a Master of Music degree in composition at the University of Victoria after having received a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University. Kristy has studied with composers Christopher Butterfield, Gordon Mumma, Peter Hatch and Linda C. Smith as well as pianist Jamie Parker. Her music has been performed in Canada and Japan and presented by Redshift, A Place to Listen, Continuum, Vancouver New Music, The Music Gallery, Arraymusic, Open Space, Ensemble Symposium, among others. Her work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the SOCAN Foundation.
From 2009-10, Kristy served as the New Music Coordinator for Open Space (Victoria) and in 2012 curated the interactive installation (CanonX+4’33=100) featuring the work of Seattle-based sound artist and inventor, Trimpin. She is currently the Concert & Publicity Manager at the University of Victoria’s School of Music.
Kristy's scores are available through the Canadian Music Centre where she is an Associate Composer. Her book, Songs for Tree, is a collection of photographs, prints and scores that encourage musical interactions with nature.
Her love of natural fibres and tactile sensibility brought about warble & plink, a project dedicated to Kristy's handmade knit and crochet works. Kristy is also an award-winning photographer, avid outdoor adventurer, and gardener.
Contact: [email protected]