Phil Husbands' tribute
Drew Gartland-Jones, lecturer in Computer Music in the department of Informatics,
died peacefully on Friday 5th November following a sudden stroke two days earlier.
He almost single-handedly set up the pioneering new Music Informatics degree,
a joint venture between the departments of Music and Informatics,
and was a leading light in the computational modelling of creativity,
especially with reference to musical composition.
A man of enormous energy and vision, his association with Sussex was all too brief.
Just three years ago, after a long period of combining a career as a composer and
installation artist with senior positions in the software industry,
he arrived to do a DPhil on the application of adaptive computing techniques
to algorithmic composition and generative music. He rapidly decided Sussex was his
home and played a leading role in persuading the University that a new interdisciplinary degree
crossing the arts science boundary was not just a good idea but a necessity.
Naturally he applied for the job to set up the programme.
The pro-vice-chancellor on the appointments panel summed up the feelings of the other members by declaring
Drew the most impressive applicant for a lectureship he had ever come across.
He became a member of faculty in September 2003.
Drew obtained a 1st class BA in Music from the University of Leeds, where he won the year prize for composition,
and an M.Mus. in composition from Southampton University.
He taught music at the University of Wolverhampton from 1993-1997, becoming the head of popular music studies.
Drew has always been almost equally interested in music and science
(he started a physics degree before switching to music) and felt increasingly that he wanted to dissolve the barrier between creative work in technology and composition.
To help him achieve this goal, in 1998 he took an MSc in computer science at Birmingham University, gaining a distinction.
Using his considerable contacts in the creative arts, Drew was enormously influential in catalysing a range of Sussex-based collaborations between scientists and artists.
He recently set up the Creative Systems Lab in Informatics to develop projects that lie at the intersections of the arts, science and technology.
He was also co-founder of blip, a highly successful Brighton based monthly forum that showcases work at the art/science boundary.
We have lost a wonderful colleague and friend, a man full of ideas and infectious enthusiasm, a man who had so much more to give.
But he has left us a great legacy that we must allow to flourish. Our thoughts are with Theresa and their two sons.
Phil Husbands
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Lori Wormald's tribute
I have given this some thought and feel the best way for me to write a bit about Andrew's time at ATG is just to write.
I met Andrew in January 2000 when he had only recently joined ATG, and was one of three technical staff working to support virtually all of Europe. He had come to ATG from Nettec plc and was looking for a new challenge.
From the day I met Andrew I knew he was a special, talented person and that he would be tremendously important in setting up the consultancy business for ATG in Europe. Andrew quickly learned the technology of the ATG products, and at the same time started helping with hiring tens of technical staff.
I'm sure that almost every person who joined ATG in the consulting area during 2000 met Andrew before they joined the company. And I'm sure Andrew was one of the reasons those people decided to join the company.
As ATG grew Andrew became very busy. The Sales team wanted to use Andrew in pivotal sales opportunities, the customers wanted him to work with them as a 'highly paid consultant' and I was hopeful Andrew would consider a leadership role within the consulting department.
Andrew wasn't sure he wanted to get into 'management' for fear he would lose his technical skills and not be as involved with customers as he would like to be. But he also saw he could influence and lead, and he eventually decided to become a Technical Manager of about half the consultancy staff.
Andrew was a natural leader. People were drawn to him and wanted to work with him and do well for him. He was talented and clever and lovely to be around. He was a huge influence and character in the ATG community. During such a busy and sometimes tumultuous time he was always true to himself and full of integrity
Andrew clearly did well in his role as Technical Manager but was constantly working too hard as he was pulled back into customers who requested him by name (some outside of the UK). Eventually, Andrew decided to scale down his workload and pursue his interest in academics and music. Luckily for ATG he continued to work with their products, and with them part time until he eventually changed professions and moved onto new goals.
Lori Wormald
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