Trevor Treglia (b. 1995) is a composer, instrument builder, and researcher based in Brooklyn, New York. His practice centers on microtonal just intonation, psychoacoustic phenomena, and the emotional aspects of timbre and pitch perception. Treglia’s work engages with precision tuning systems, exploring how harmonic relationships shape both auditory perception and affective experience. His compositions often feature unconventional tunings and extended techniques, focusing on the subtle shifts in sound that emerge through careful manipulation of pitch and texture.
He holds a BFA in Composition and Experimental Sound Practices from the California Institute of the Arts (Spring 2025), where he studied with Wolfgang von Schweinitz and Michael Pisaro-Liu. During his time at CalArts, Treglia taught synthesis during the Winter Session and co-led public a workshop on Pauline Oliveros’ Sonic Meditations at the Philosophical Research Society. He is currently pursuing his MM in Music Theory and Composition at New York University.
Recent works include Aeolian Song (2025), a generative composition for just intonation oscillators and spatialized diffusion, presented as both a multichannel sound installation at CalArts Expo and a music and dance performance with choreographer Addie San Diego at Human Resources, Los Angeles; The Dragons in My Life (2024), a composition for ensemble and electronics; And Now This Creature (2024), premiered by Diapason; A Special Mystic Joy (2024), which uses custom DSP processing, developed in collaboration with programmer Jack Kilgore, to capture and displace the violin’s upper formant regions in real time; and Every Word in the Bible (2024), for retuned Disklavier, which translates biblical text into pitch sequences based on alphabetic organization.
Treglia’s compositions have been presented at venues such as Oracle Egg, Human Resources, Zebulon, and Torus Gallery. His installation Lessons Soft-Spoken (2023) was shown at the Fairy Farm Tunnel in Oakland for the Through the Looking Glass festival, presented by Spelling, Sacred Bones, and Atlas Obscura, and later at the Other Places Art Fair at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro (2022).
He is the founder of Community Ensemble, an initiative that invites public participation in the performance of major works from the experimental music canon, including Terry Riley’s In C, Phil Niblock’s Disseminate, and James Tenney’s Swell Piece. He also hosts No Escape Except Peace, a radio show broadcast on Hong Kong Community Radio, Internet Public Radio, and Veneno Radio.
In addition to his compositional work, Treglia designs custom microtonal tuning systems for both electronic and acoustic instruments. He has built or adapted a variety of instruments, including a, chord organ, harmonica set, shruti box, acoustic drone boxes, and a hurdy-gurdy, all tuned to bespoke just intonation systems.
Treglia’s recordings include And Now This Creature with Diapason (CD, forthcoming), Untitled (LP, Formforum, 2023), On Wax Shores (LP, Formforum, 2020), That’s How I Feel (EP, Evo Natura, 2020), and Hope Springs (LP, Diner Waitress Tapes, 2018). His music has also appeared on compilations such as Dream Radio (2024, Cone Shape Top), One To Another, One In The Other (2021, Eastern Nurseries), and Evo-lation One (2020, Evo Natura).