In an interview with Tom Strini we discuss my influences, compositions and painted scores. The interview focuses on two upcoming premieres–Acedia which was commissioned by Present Music's Kevin Stalheim for their interdisciplinary show Around 30, and This is called breathing which was premiered by Dal Niente during Unruly Music Festival.

"Even more amazing was the long improvisation by Laura Murphy and Amanda Schoofs. Dressed glamorously in black, both performers vocalized wordlessly while dancing according to separate but interactive structures created by Loewen. Each woman was acutely alert to the other's voice and body, responsive but self-sufficient and individually creative. They made an exquisite team. The singing was alternately melodic, percussive, operatic and ethereal; the movements were full-bodied, sultry and playful with intricate, intimate partnering. The result, titled Layers, was unlike any dance I've ever seen." John Schneider (Shepherd Express Milwaukee)

"Schoofs' reactions bordered on skat, with choppy exclamations and surprised tones racing from her throat. It was entirely original, breathtaking in its delivery." Danielle McClune (Third Coast Digest)

"Acedia passed its 10 minutes as a transporting, enigmatic reverie. . . Schoofs sang open, pure intervals, in pure, open tones, and contrasted them with grating vocal fries and tones generated on inhalations. In one especially poignant effect, she let the sound of breath alone evolve ever so gradually and tentatively into a musical tone, creating the impression of an achingly fragile tone." Tom Strini (Third Coast Digest)

Dr. Sushi interviews Amanda Schoofs, Steve Schlei, and Laura Murphy about our upcoming March 9, 2012 performance of John Cage's Song Books (Solos for Voice 3-92) as part of Christopher Burns' Unruly Music Festival. Our interview on 2012-03-06 begins about a third of the way through the radio stream.

88NINE Radio Milwaukee interview

"Wherever you are, be sure to follow the ethereal singing of Amanda Schoofs, crystalline tones that cut through the space’s white noise, but also occasionally drop into a gut-bucket, field-holler growl.Toward the end of the dance, Schoofs and Laura Murphy perform a duet in front of the screens, the two urging each other on like two jazz masters in a cutting session." Paul Kosidowski (Milwaukee Magazine)

"The audio design was superb. I followed the sound of metal cans on strings dragged across the cobbles by dancers, and enthusiastically pursued the brilliant wordless vocalizing of Amanda Schoofs. The main room featured a recording of the site's true ambient sounds, including trains passing to and from the station outside. Listening to a recorded train, I entered the courtyard, into the identical sound occurring live – a magical disorientation." - John Schneider (Shepherd Express Milwaukee)

The award, in honor of of the late Leslie Whitaker, was established to encourage the growth of attention to writing, creativity and teaching at University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin. Amanda will use the award to coordinate a project that supports the creation and performance of new text-based scores, focusing on the interdisciplinary axis between experimental music, performance art and sound poetry.