Dr Christopher Newell

• Human computer interaction

• Speech technology

• Design

• Theatre performance and opera

• The Creative Speech Technology (CreST) Network, set up by Dr Newell with Alistair Edwards at the University of York, enables collaboration between scientists and artists in the field of computer speech

• Collaborated with the Toshiba Speech Technology Group on the development of emotional synthetic voices using actors

• More info about collaborative projects can be found at Dr Newell's website

Newell C., ‘Interdisciplinary Support for Opera Practice in the UK’, In The Business of Opera, ed. Belina-Johnson A and Scott D. B., Ashgate (2015)

Newell C. and Newell G., ‘Opera Singers as Pop Stars: Opera within the popular music industry.’ In Opera in the Media Age. Ed. Fryer P., McFarland and Co (2014)

Newell C. and Barker P., 'Can a computer-generated voice be sincere? A case study combining music and synthetic speech'. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, special edition on the CresT Network (2013)

Edwards A. and Newell C., ‘The Creative Speech Technology Network’, Communication Matters, Vol. 26. No. 3. pp. 46 - 48 (2013)

Newell C., Edwards A., Cairns P., 'Liveness' in human-machine interaction', International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 221 – 237 (2011)

Undergraduate

• Interaction Experience and Engagement

• Production Planning and Professional Skills

• Designing for the Web

• Creative Leadership and Entrepreneurship

• Digital Content Management

• Understanding Digital Media Tools and Platforms

• Computer speech

• Interdisciplinary research and practice

• New media production

• Human-computer interaction

• Opera and theatre directing

• Fellow of the HEA

• Diploma in Stage Management, Guildhall School of Music and Drama (1982)

• Certificato in Italiano, Universita Italiana per Stranieri di Perugia (1982)

• MSc (Distinction) Interactive Multimedia Production, University of Huddersfield (2001)

• PhD Computer Science. Place, authenticity, and time: a framework for liveness in synthetic speech, University of York, 2009

• Consultant for the Toshiba Research Europe in Cambridge in 2013

• Awarded a Wingate Scholarship to research creative computer speech at the University of York (2010)

• Awarded an EPSRC grant to develop the Creative Speech Technology Network (2010)

Artistic directorships

• Modern Music Theatre Troupe, producing innovative, exciting music theatre, and pioneering education and community work. Productions included 15 new commissions, community operas, and education projects leading to performances. Played venues and festivals across the UK, abroad, and major London venues including the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Place Theatre. Compositions included premieres by William Craft and John Adams (1985-1998)

• Pavilion Opera and Theatre Company, touring chamber opera and theatre internationally (1990–1992)

• The Grand Opera House York, hosting a programme of national and international theatre, music and conferences, 1989-1990

Awards

• MMTT was nominated for an Olivier Award (1994) and won the Prudential Opera Award (1995)

• Mid Wales Opera, for whom Dr Newell directed The Barber of Seville (Rossini), Die Fledermaus (Strauss), The Tales of Hoffmann (Offenbach), Rigoletto (Verdi), The Magic Flute (Mozart) and La Cenerentola (Rossini), was one of three companies short-listed for a Prudential Opera Award.