Brainwaves to Basslines: UCI Engineers’ Instrumental Innovations
Hey there, music lovers, tech enthusiasts, and culture vultures! If you weren’t at UC Irvine’s Winifred Smith Hall on May 20, you missed out on one of the coolest events of 2024. Let me paint a picture for you: Imagine a stage where engineering students become rock stars and symphonic virtuosos, unveiling their own handcrafted musical instruments. Sounds wild, right? Welcome to E-Sonic!
E-Sonic, which stands for Engineering-Symphonic Orchestra New Instrument Competition, is a first-of-its-kind event at UCI. The competition was hatched over a meal and a conversation between Pacific Symphony President and CEO John Forsyte and Dean of the Samueli School of Engineering Magnus Egerstedt. Forsyte pointed out that the standard instrumentation of orchestras has not changed in more than a century and that it would be fun to challenge students to create a new orchestral instrument. Dean Egerstedt immediately seized the opportunity to challenge his students to collaborate and build teams, and they then partnered with the Claire Trevor School of the Arts to host the competition. E-Sonic is all about blending the precision of engineering with the creativity of music.
From the moment you walked into the concert hall, you could feel the buzz of excitement. This wasn’t just a stiff competition—it was a full-blown celebration of ingenuity. The vibe was electric, the crowd was pumped, and the stage was set for a night of mind-blowing performances.
So, what’s the deal with E-Sonic? UCI Engineering and UCI Arts students spent months designing and building brand-new musical instruments, then took to the stage to perform with their inventions. The theme of the night was “Engineering+” or “E+,” a nod to the engineering school’s mission. In the words of Dean Egerstedt, “E+ is centered around three main pillars: Educational Journeys, Collaborative Research, and Meaningful Partnerships. These pillars were identified as the best way of talking about who we are and how we want to be known.” Forsyte added, “It was thrilling to see students grapple with the complexity of acoustics, material, computer, electrical, mechanical, and computer science to create instruments that are new musical inventions. Ultimately, the E-Sonic competition was meant to be fun, break down intellectual silos and remind us that music is a passion for many students. I was thrilled to collaborate with Deans Egerstedt and Lopéz on this project.
One of the highlights of the night? The Creophone! This innovative instrument is an EEG-controlled synthesizer that translates brainwaves into music. That’s right, the instrument literally reads your mind and turns your thoughts into captivating chords. How cool is that? Using a MIDI interface, the sound can be customized to match the piece being played, creating a truly unique musical experience.
“Complex challenges require multifaceted teams of thinkers who inspire and innovate, which is what the arts is about” shared Claire Trevor Dean Tiffany López. “More than half of future careers will be ones our students invent, and this competition epitomizes how UCI students bring together critical and creative approaches to solve problems they may face and innovate bold solutions.”
The crowd played a crucial role in the fun—cheering for their favorite instruments and performances. And social media was on fire! Comments like “Who said engineering students can’t make music? Not only can they—in the innovative engineering spirit, they’ve INVENTED new musical instruments” and “Congratulations, UCI Anteater Engineering Musical Virtuosos!” perfectly captured the spirit of the evening.
And the winner of the night? Drumroll, please… Taesung Hwang! This talented individual, who is both a computer science and music major, wowed everyone with his creation and performance of the Inductus, taking home the grand prize. The instrument is designed as a rod. When tilting, it moves a magnet through coils, sending signals to a controller that turns them into various sounds or actions. Taesung’s victory was a shining example of what happens when you mix tech savvy with artistic flair.
E-Sonic is a new partnership between Pacific Symphony, the Samueli School of Engineering, and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts is now planned to be an annual event. It is also hoped that some of the instruments might be incorporated into a work performed by Pacific Symphony.
The excitement and creativity on display proved that when you bring together different disciplines, the results can be next-level wizardry. It wasn’t just about showcasing talent; it was about celebrating the fusion of technology and art in a way that was both entertaining and inspiring.
This epic night showed the world that UCI and Pacific Symphony can collaborate in a way where innovation knows no bounds. The Symphony, Samueli School of Engineering, and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts have set the bar high with this one, and we can’t wait to see what next year brings. If you missed it this time, make sure you mark your calendar for the next E-Sonic. Trust us, you won’t want to miss the encore!
Read more about this unique event on UCI’s website.
