"The EDGE. I would say 'on the edge' but Dorian Wallace is the edge. an autodidact, he writes from his soul, and splatters contemporary issues so that they get all over your shoes."
-- John Sanborn, media artist
Artistic Statement
My artistic practice centers on creating music for and within the human community. Since the Paleolithic era, music has been a vital force in human evolution, shaping our experiences and connections through sound. I compose to promote positive social change, foster healing, and inspire peace and unity. My goal is to bring people together, creating moments of collective calm while also illuminating the profound injustices imposed by capitalism, fascism, abuse, coercive control, and trauma.
My artistic practice centers on creating music for and within the human community. Since the Paleolithic era, music has been a vital force in human evolution, shaping our experiences and connections through sound. I compose to promote positive social change, foster healing, and inspire peace and unity. My goal is to bring people together, creating moments of collective calm while also illuminating the profound injustices imposed by capitalism, fascism, abuse, coercive control, and trauma.
Live at Omaha Under the Radar 2022. Photo by Ben Semisch.
Bio
Dorian Wallace is a composer, pianist, and board-certified music therapist committed to harnessing music's healing qualities for therapeutic work, social justice, and community engagement. His music integrates contemporary classical composition, reflexive improvisation, and therapeutic practices with a focus on addressing systemic inequalities and fostering resilience. His music is deeply rooted in creating emotionally resonant and socially meaningful experiences.
Dorian's compositions often delve into sociopolitical, emotional, and psychological themes. He has collaborated with artists such as Paul Pinto, Pamela Z, Bonita Oliver, and John Sanborn. His distinctive style combines elements of dissonance, expressionism, romanticism, rhythmic complexity, and intricate textures, offering thought-provoking and cathartic experiences. Dorian is a regular collaborator with the Sing In Solidarity chorus, making music to amplify the voices of activists, those experiencing marginalization, and the international labor and liberation movements.
Dorian, alongside violinist Hajnal Pivnick, is a co-founder of Tenth Intervention, a new music collective based in New York City that coordinates social activism, cultural connection, and artistic exploration. The collective's projects have included For Our Courageous Workers, a tribute to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; Songs for the Resistance, celebrating labor and justice movements; Colectivo: Music from Cuba and New York, fostering collaboration between Cuban and NYC composers; the Silent House Series, featuring live scores for silent films; and performances of 20th-century classics like Pierrot Lunaire, Eight Songs for a Mad King, and Perfect Lives, alongside new commissions by 21st-century composers.
As a music therapist, Dorian has worked extensively with incarcerated populations at Rikers Island, Crossroads Detention Center, and Sing Sing Correctional Facility, survivors of coercive groups through the Lalich Center for Cults and Coercion, and hospice patients at Calvary Hospital. He incorporates active music listening, improvisation, and lyric analysis to aid participants in processing trauma and grief, building resilience and navigation skills, and reclaiming their relationship with music. Dorian has presented on Liberation Music Therapy at institutions such as Columbia University, Trauma Research Foundation, Montclair State University, University of Louisville, Loughborough University's Anarchism Research Group, American Humanist Association's Center for Education, AMTA Symposiums, and MAR-AMTA Conferences. He has facilitated workshops for adult industry workers through Pineapple Support, activists experiencing burnout through Democratic Socialists of America, and people transitioning out of insular communities with Footsteps.
Dorian is a sought-after dance and ritual accompanist in New York City, crafting dynamic and responsive soundscapes. He teaches Music for Dancers 1 and 2 at the Martha Graham School, centering concepts of rhythm, collaboration, and musicality for dancers to deepen their relationship with music. As part of Tenth Intervention's Silent House series, Dorian has accompanied silent films at venues such as Nitehawk Cinema, Threes Brewing, and the late Videology.
Dorian's multidisciplinary approach and dedication to community engagement offer a unique perspective on the intersection of art, healing, and social change.
Dorian Wallace is a composer, pianist, and board-certified music therapist committed to harnessing music's healing qualities for therapeutic work, social justice, and community engagement. His music integrates contemporary classical composition, reflexive improvisation, and therapeutic practices with a focus on addressing systemic inequalities and fostering resilience. His music is deeply rooted in creating emotionally resonant and socially meaningful experiences.
Dorian's compositions often delve into sociopolitical, emotional, and psychological themes. He has collaborated with artists such as Paul Pinto, Pamela Z, Bonita Oliver, and John Sanborn. His distinctive style combines elements of dissonance, expressionism, romanticism, rhythmic complexity, and intricate textures, offering thought-provoking and cathartic experiences. Dorian is a regular collaborator with the Sing In Solidarity chorus, making music to amplify the voices of activists, those experiencing marginalization, and the international labor and liberation movements.
Dorian, alongside violinist Hajnal Pivnick, is a co-founder of Tenth Intervention, a new music collective based in New York City that coordinates social activism, cultural connection, and artistic exploration. The collective's projects have included For Our Courageous Workers, a tribute to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic; Songs for the Resistance, celebrating labor and justice movements; Colectivo: Music from Cuba and New York, fostering collaboration between Cuban and NYC composers; the Silent House Series, featuring live scores for silent films; and performances of 20th-century classics like Pierrot Lunaire, Eight Songs for a Mad King, and Perfect Lives, alongside new commissions by 21st-century composers.
As a music therapist, Dorian has worked extensively with incarcerated populations at Rikers Island, Crossroads Detention Center, and Sing Sing Correctional Facility, survivors of coercive groups through the Lalich Center for Cults and Coercion, and hospice patients at Calvary Hospital. He incorporates active music listening, improvisation, and lyric analysis to aid participants in processing trauma and grief, building resilience and navigation skills, and reclaiming their relationship with music. Dorian has presented on Liberation Music Therapy at institutions such as Columbia University, Trauma Research Foundation, Montclair State University, University of Louisville, Loughborough University's Anarchism Research Group, American Humanist Association's Center for Education, AMTA Symposiums, and MAR-AMTA Conferences. He has facilitated workshops for adult industry workers through Pineapple Support, activists experiencing burnout through Democratic Socialists of America, and people transitioning out of insular communities with Footsteps.
Dorian is a sought-after dance and ritual accompanist in New York City, crafting dynamic and responsive soundscapes. He teaches Music for Dancers 1 and 2 at the Martha Graham School, centering concepts of rhythm, collaboration, and musicality for dancers to deepen their relationship with music. As part of Tenth Intervention's Silent House series, Dorian has accompanied silent films at venues such as Nitehawk Cinema, Threes Brewing, and the late Videology.
Dorian's multidisciplinary approach and dedication to community engagement offer a unique perspective on the intersection of art, healing, and social change.
