About Me

Hi! My name is Elena. I am a music technology PhD student and researcher at New York University's Music and Audio Research Lab (MARL), where I am advised by Dr. Brian McFee and Dr. Pablo Ripollés. Before coming to NYU, I taught sound recording at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA), where I received my Masters degree in 2019.

So far in my research, I have worked on projects related to hit song science, sound recording, vocal expression, computer music, machine learning, and neuroimaging. I have presented my work at the annual ISMIR, ICML, and NIME conferences, as well as at several universities and tech companies. I've done engineering internships at Apple (2022), Universal Audio (2018), and AT&T (2016). I also hold a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA in Cognitive Science. As of 2023, I live in Brookyn, New York and regularly pay visits to the Silicon Valley- my hometown.

As a musician, I am a singer and vocal percussionist and perform with serveral vocal groups in New York City; currently in The Sirens of Gotham. I also frequently work on experimental computer music, most notably contributing to "The Furies," with the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk). Finally, I am an award-nominated audio engineer/ producer, most known for my work on vocal music. In 2020, I was featured in the Stanford Daily for my contribution to the singing community at Stanford. ** As of January 2024, I am looking for part-time employment during the rest of my PhD AND looking for an internship for Summer 2024. Thank you! **

Loops: Beatboxing, Vocals, and Visuals

Loops - CCRMA Stage, January 2020

A live looping beatboxing and vocal performance, accompanied by visuals. Performed at Stanford CCRMA for ArtX Stanford's New Dimensionality Showcase, January 2020. Check out the visualizer I built! 4 Seasons: A Music Visualizer.

"The Furies: A Laptopera"

The Furies: A Laptopera - Bing Concert Hall, June 2019

"The Furies: A Laptopera" is a new original opera for performance with a laptop orchestra, all written by Dr. Anne Hege. I built the instruments for this work and performed vocals along with Camille Noufi. The full work premiered in 2022.